WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:03.560 What happens when an Assembly election is called? 2 00:00:05.880 --> 00:00:09.080 The campaign kicks off six weeks before the election. 3 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:13.360 The Assembly is dissolved. 4 00:00:13.360 --> 00:00:18.440 This means that it stops its work and candidates focus on the upcoming election race. 5 00:00:18.720 --> 00:00:22.800 All of the seats in the Assembly are now vacant and up for grabs. 6 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:27.120 Candidates and Parties produce manifestos, 7 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:31.360 telling us what they stand for and what they promise to do, if elected. 8 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:37.240 Posters of candidates appear on lampposts. 9 00:00:37.720 --> 00:00:41.960 It’s all about publicity, promoting the candidates as much as possible. 10 00:00:44.400 --> 00:00:48.240 The Parties also produce a political broadcast which airs on TV. 11 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:53.600 It’s a bit like an advert and aims to communicate the Party’s key messages clearly. 12 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:58.840 The Party Leaders take part in televised debates where they try to appeal to voters 13 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:01.600 by scoring points over their political rivals. 14 00:01:02.360 --> 00:01:05.920 As well as using traditional media like newspapers and radio, 15 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:10.960 a key part of running an election campaign is maintaining a profile on social media. 16 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:16.160 Many of the candidates also attend public meetings called Hustings. 17 00:01:16.160 --> 00:01:18.880 This is an opportunity to convince local people 18 00:01:18.880 --> 00:01:22.600 that they are the right person to represent them as an MLA. 19 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:26.840 It’s also a chance for voters to ask the candidates questions. 20 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:31.800 Opinion polls try to predict election results. 21 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:36.280 While all this is going on, the candidates hit the streets, 22 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:38.200 canvassing from door to door. 23 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:42.080 They drop off leaflets and speak with as many voters as possible. 24 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:47.240 The aim is to encourage people to vote and more importantly, to vote for them. 25 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:50.480 And who gets elected? 26 00:01:51.800 --> 00:01:53.640 That’s all down to the voters. 27 00:01:54.160 --> 00:01:55.800 (MUSIC)