The 82 candidates in this year’s island wide vote have been asked to provide Guernsey’s youngest voters with a 150-word summary about themselves and their three key issues.
Some have already done so, with the others encouraged to as well – so young voters can easily find out what they will do if elected to the States.
It’s part of a drive by the Youth Forum to ensure young voters have as much information at their fingertips as possible before the polls open next month.
Polling clashes with both GCSE and A-level exams this year, meaning that some 16-18 year olds who are registered to vote will be focused on their studies when the election is held in June.
Other students may also find the election clashes with their exams and deadlines, with the Youth Forum saying that the timing is not ideal, but they’re working around it.
“Around 55 candidates” attended a presentation on Tuesday evening, arranged by members of the Youth Forum where its Youth Manifesto was shared.
The manifesto includes the call for candidates to share the three key issues that are important to them in 150 words. Those brief “blurbs” will then be published by the Youth Commission to share with young voters.
The idea came about when members of the Youth Forum realised this year’s election directly clashes with exams, unlike in 2020 when it was held in October.
“In the last election we know there were a significant number of young people who found reading the 80+ manifestos difficult to manage with school work,” said the Youth Forum.
“This year the election period coincides with GCSEs & A levels. We believe no young person should have to choose between making an informed vote and studying for exams.”
The Youth Forum are an elected group of young people who meet to discuss issues affecting their generation in Guernsey and Alderney.
One of its aims is to encourage young people to engage with the States and elections “so we have politically eloquent adults later”.
“Young people want to hear from you!,” said the Youth Forum in its message to candidates.
“Whether you stand for a better education system, more mental health accessibility or affordable housing young people want to get engaged with you and we need your help to do it.”
The 2025 Youth Forum Project Lead is Eva Redelinghuys.
She said last night’s presentation to candidates went really well.
“We were extremely pleased and were really lucky to welcome around 55 candidates,” she said.
“We presented our manifesto in a presentation given by our Youth Forum members before a Q&A where upcoming candidates asked us questions about what it means to be a young person in the upcoming election and then some networking where we were really pleased to get to chat to candidates and deputies about their initiatives.
“But overall I think we were most pleased with the enthusiasm and interest from the candidates that for us on the Youth Forum feels unparalleled.”
The summary manifestos are being published by the Youth Commission on its website.