What’s a manifesto and how do I write one? What’s a manifesto? A manifesto is what you run your election on. It explains a bit about who you are and what you want to do. Considering that you’re running in the SU Elections, there’s probably some kind of reason you’re going through this whole process that goes beyond just getting a graduate job. How do I begin to write one? Sit with a piece of paper and a pen, and think about why you’re running – what has your time at University been like? What would you change if you had the chance? Try to come up with three big things. If you’re struggling to think of ideas, talk to your housemates, friends or coursemates! They’ll have some things that they wish could be improved. Remember, you can always talk to the existing Officer! Obviously make sure your points are reasonable. Don’t make ridiculous promises that you know you can’t keep. Make sure they’re relevant. Ideally, you’ll have some kind of way of measuring the outcome of that manifesto point. Now it’s time to write it up. It’s not War and Peace, so keep it brief. In the Officer elections, there are 5 positions. Say that 5 people run for each position – that’s 25 manifestos each voter would need to read! So remember – no one is going to hear about your great ideas if they can’t get past the first line. What should it look like? The way you lay out your manifesto can make it way easier for the voter to understand what you’re communicating. It’s suggested that you keep the bit about yourself to just a few lines – maybe what you study, why you’re running, and why you’d be a good Officer. Give each section of your manifesto a heading. This means the voter can get an idea of what you care about without delving into the ins and outs of your policies. Now, when you submit your manifesto online it’s quite restrictive about what you can submit. There’s no HTML function and there is not the opportunity to upload a picture. However, remember that the picture of you that the Students’ Union takes will be up there, so there is no need for you to worry about submitting a photo. Remember: bullet points are useful and the bold tool if your friend when it comes to highlighting key points.
Writing a manifesto can be easy. Get your ideas, make sure you can explain them simply and clearly. Keep it brief, and make sure it’s easy to read.