How do I know who to vote for?

Who you vote for is your decision and yours alone.

You can just vote for someone based on vibes but we would recommend that you look at their positions on issues that matter to you and see if you agree with them. Ahead of an election candidates will generally publish something called a ‘manifesto’ setting out what they hope to achieve when they get elected. These often include a mixture of local and national issues and its important to remember that you can hold successful candidates to these positions  

You can also contact people standing in your area to see what they think about an issue. Many candidates will have social media pages, host drop in sessions or attend a pre-election event. These events are called ‘requisition meetings’ or ‘hustings’ and are an opportunity for you to hear from candidates and ask them questions at once.

Candidates don’t need to attend these events but it’s generally a good idea for them to do so.   

If you don’t agree with a candidate or want to know more about their position on an issue, you can ask them and you can challenge them on their beliefs. We know that it might seem daunting but they are competing for your vote and a chance to sit in our country’s parliament (and receive an £81,000 salary).

Candidates for MHK are generally more accessible than candidates in other countries, often they don’t have the backing of a political party don’t hold positions on every issue - your conversation could sway them in a way that isn’t really possible in somewhere like the UK. 

Most importantly, you do not need to vote the same way as your friends or family and you don’t need to tell anyone who you have voted for if you don’t want to. It is your vote to use how you wish. 

Want to make sure you can vote? 

If you’re planning to vote in the Isle of Man General Election - make sure you’re registered. You can register or find out if you are registered here. 

The deadline for registering to vote is 25 August 2026. If you’re not registered by then you won’t be able to vote on election day. 

Want to know more about the election?

This is just one in our series of short blogs explaining what the hell is happening on 24 September 2026. You can read the rest of the blogs here.