Part IV: Candidate Forums
Town Hall Format
LWV Minnesota does not recommend this format, though we know how tempting it is.
In the “town hall” format, members of the audience ask the candidates questions in turn. The format can be lively and spontaneous, raise issues of real interest to the voters and put the spotlight on citizen participation. This format requires either a large, self-selected audience or an audience carefully chosen to represent diverse segments of the electorate, especially undecided voters. Candidates must not be able to pack the audience with their supporters.
Oral questions allow more active audience participation, but have several drawbacks:
Questions may be unclear, hostile, bullying, or attempt to draw attention to the questioner.
The questioner may ramble or attempt to make a speech, may personally attack a candidate, or may ask a question that does not really pertain to the office.
Often a certain question triggers similar questions in the audience’s mind, limiting time to explore other areas of interest.
Sometimes one questioner may dominate as others in the audience defer to them. It can sometimes be hard to hear the questioner, or to understand their point.
If your local LWV decides to proceed with this format, we offer several recommendations for managing the audience:
Have two standing microphones either on the two center aisles, or, if there is only one center aisle, one near the front and one midway to the back.
Have LWV members stationed at each microphone and hold the microphone while the question is being asked. Do not give the audience member the microphone.
Clearly state the rules at the beginning of the forum.
Specify a time limit for asking the question, keeping it very brief, perhaps 30 seconds.
Specify that the question must be addressed about the office and not to an individual.
State that the Moderator can choose to disallow the question and move to the next question.
If all questions from floor are on one subject, politely redirect: “There have been several questions on that subject already. Is there a question on another topic?”
Allow all candidates to respond to the question.
Start with a prepared question or two to allow audience time to step to the microphone.
Allow time for closing comments to allow the candidates an opportunity to respond, clarify, or make their case directly to the voters.
Key: There always needs to be some control over the questions. Although asking audience members to submit questions in advance may sacrifice some spontaneity, it allows LWV to screen for repetition, clarity and appropriateness and to make sure each candidate gets approximately the same number of questions. Audience members may ask the chosen questions or they may be read by the Moderator.