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<c.S1>What happens
when an Assembly election is called?</c>

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<c.S1>The campaign kicks off
six weeks before the election.</c>

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<c.S1>The Assembly is dissolved.</c>

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<c.S1>This means that it stops its work and
candidates focus on the upcoming election race.</c>

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<c.S1>All of the seats in the Assembly
are now vacant and up for grabs.</c>

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<c.S1>Candidates and Parties produce manifestos,</c>

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<c.S1>telling us what they stand for
and what they promise to do, if elected.</c>

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<c.S1>Posters of candidates appear on lampposts.</c>

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<c.S1>It’s all about publicity,
promoting the candidates as much as possible.</c>

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<c.S1>The Parties also produce a political broadcast
which airs on TV.</c>

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<c.S1>It’s a bit like an advert and aims to
communicate the Party’s key messages clearly.</c>

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<c.S1>The Party Leaders take part in televised
debates where they try to appeal to voters</c>

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<c.S1>by scoring points over their political rivals.</c>

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<c.S1>As well as using traditional media
like newspapers and radio,</c>

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<c.S1>a key part of running an election campaign
is maintaining a profile on social media.</c>

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<c.S1>Many of the candidates also attend
public meetings called Hustings.</c>

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<c.S1>This is an opportunity to convince local people</c>

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<c.S1>that they are the right person
to represent them as an MLA.</c>

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<c.S1>It’s also a chance for voters
to ask the candidates questions.</c>

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<c.S1>Opinion polls try to predict election results.</c>

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<c.S1>While all this is going on,
the candidates hit the streets,</c>

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<c.S1>canvassing from door to door.</c>

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<c.S1>They drop off leaflets
and speak with as many voters as possible.</c>

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<c.S1>The aim is to encourage people to vote
and more importantly, to vote for them.</c>

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<c.S1>And who gets elected?</c>

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<c.S1>That’s all down to the voters.</c>

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<c.S1>(MUSIC)</c>