votewise.co.uk – the independent website which lists forthcoming by-elections and candidates (and which I blogged about here) – has recently started displaying page view figures on the biography pages for each by-election candidate. The numbers (even allowing for being page views rather than absolute unique visitors) are generally impressive, with a candidate’s page being typically viewed several hundred times.
Given the number of votes it takes to win or lose an election, and the likelihood that a high proportion of those views are from (potential) voters, that’s not a number to be sniffed at – and it therefore makes it all the more sensible for candidates to supply the site with their information. A large part of the reason for the traffic is that people like the Electoral Commission are increasingly pointing the public at this site.
All candidates are asked to supply such information, but by no means all do. (I’m glad to say that looking at the site, it looks like Liberal Democrat candidates are the most likely to supply information, but the hit rate is still noticeably short of 100%.)
So if you’re a by-election candidate, or know a by-election candidate, don’t let this opportunity to put information in front of the public go to waste.
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3 Comments
Thanks Mark.
After the end of play today (Tuesday 26th May), we will no longer be accepting new requests to list elections taking place on the 4th June 2009. This is because there will not be sufficient time for invites to arrive and candidates to post etc.
However we have a lot of Liberal Democrats listed that, so far, have not made use of our service despite receiving an invitation in the post. We would therefore echo your call to get those that have been invited to make use of us by filling in the form and posting a photo of themselves.
Many thanks
Mark
If by any chance you haven’t already done so, could you ensure ALDC are aware of this and include it in their advice/guidance to candidates and agents
Ian: good point. ALDC have pushed this too, and I’ve been talking to them today about them promoting it more in one of their standard emails to council by-election candidates.