Leaflets
Election
Leaflets are produced to enable you to enhance the profile of your candidate
to people who may not know them and may never meet them. There are also
a way to publicise you policies and campaign issues. If you are standing
as a candidate almost by definition you have been motivated to that
by something. It may be a desire to protect or improve local amenities,
a desire to remove the incumbents for some reason or something else.
Whatever it is no-one will know unless you tell them so put it in your
leaflets, e.g. new zebra crossing, save local hospital from closure,
money funds for old age donkeys, whatever it is that’s motivating
you to stand tell people.
Give your
leaflets a name. The Conservatives call theirs ‘In Touch’
the Liberal Democrats ‘Focus’ The Labour Party's vary in
different parts of the country. This builds a brand even though voters
may not see one from one election to the next.
Use graphics,
photos and graphs if relevant. These fill space and are more likely
to be looked at by voters than many paragraphs of closely typed copy
no matter how fascinating you think it is. Leaflets are mostly printed
as double sided A4 sheets. Deliver leaflets across the area you are
working to every voter household. Use only recycled paper.
As to the
content and layout of your leaflets that can vary, but I suggest you
have a look at the examples on The
Straight Choice for layout designs. should it return. However, because The Straight
Choice specialises in highlighting controversial negative leaflets I
would recommend that you do not use the type of content in the leaflets
you are likely to find there.
For content
I would say it is usual preferable to stick to positive upbeat stories
about your candidate, what they have been doing and what they would
like to do if elected. Negative stories are usually those that discuss
the record or alleged actions of your opponents. Unless you have absolute
categorical proof that your opponent has been involved in some kind
of wrong doing do not use this kind of story. It makes you look like
just another mudslinger, it negates any claim you have to be 'new' or
different' and perversely advertises that your opponent is standing.
If your opponents want publicity let them pay for it.
Here are
some examples of leaflets and fliers from The Independent Network (all
Powerpoint .ppt format)
Posters:
The Only Alternative Vote (insert candidate's name): http://bit.ly/eY9Eza
The Only Alternative Vote Independent: http://bit.ly/gJuLI5
Great Minds Think Independently: http://bit.ly/fCbHQe
Fliers:
Vote Independent: http://bit.ly/fYBJFb
Vote Independent (blank back for your candidate's information): http://bit.ly/eEu8FN
Warning
: I hadn't come across this issue before but do not
place branded products of any kind on your leaflets or other
election material unless you have the express and written permission
of the owner of the trademark. I'm adding this on 22nd April 2010 and
according to this
BBC news report the BNP face a lawsuit for using the image of a
jar of Marmite in a web election broadcast. Marmite is owned by Unilever
who, like most companies, have customers who support all political parties
and none. Companies do not associate themselves publicly with political
parties because they do not want to alienate their customer base.
The BNP
are saying that the Marmite was added in response to the current 'election'
ad campaign run by Marmite feauting a Love party and a Hate party, but
equally they are also saying they were not responsible for adding the
image to the web broadcast and that it was added by one of the people
to whom they had given the broadcast to review. So with a range of stories
you can choose which to believe. Do not make this mistake as legal action
can be expensive.
It is possible
to buy Legal Cover Insurance for Election Campaigns but frankly in the
run up to the vote you have not got the time to spend in meetings with
lawyers so it best avoided.
Important:
It is a commonly held belief that elections in the UK and contested
by political parties. This is wrong. Although you must register
your 'party' with the Electoral
Commission, even if you are an Independent, elections in the UK
are contested by candidates and agents and the candidate and the agent
are responsible for everything that is done as part of the campaign.
More significantly for leaflets everything published in support of the
campaign must contain an imprint stating who printed and published the
leaflet and their address. This usually takes form of a small print
line at the foot of any leaflet saying "Printed by Anytown Printers,
30 High Street, Anytown, Anyshire and Promoted by John Smith, 25 Main
Street, Anytown." or "Printed and Promoted by John
Smith, of behalf of Jane Brown, 25 Main St Anytown.", where
Jane Brown is the candidate and John Smith is the agent and the campaign
headquarters or committee rooms is at 25 Main Street. This does not
have to be John Smith's residence but it does have to be where the campaign
can be contacted. Your imprint must appear on every leaflet, poster,
calling card, press release or anything else you produce as part of
the campaign. Failure to do so could put you in breach of the Representation
of the People Acts and your opponents will soon let you know if it does.
Continue to Local Press....