THE second phase of a marketing campaign for this month’s general election is launched this weekend. The electoral roll closed at the end of January with more than 31,000 names registered – more than 67% of the estimated eligible voting population – following the successful ‘sign up now to have your say’ campaign.

‘What we now need to do is encourage as many islanders who have registered on the roll to either go to their polling station to vote or make a postal vote,’ said Liz Dene, assistant registrar-general of electors.

Ian Langlois, creative director at Wallace Barnaby, who devised the advertising, said: ‘We are continuing to maximise the budget set by the States for this campaign.

‘This weekend we’ll start to run black and white advertisements that reveal the mouths of the ﾓvoicelessﾔ individuals used in the first campaign. The aim is to encourage people to attend the hustings and quiz the candidates in their electoral district.

‘Then, in the final 10 days leading up to the election, we shall introduce colour advertising, featuring the Election 2004 logo with the Guernsey flag and using the slogan ﾓYour cross countsﾔ.’

Political journalist and former MP Brian Walden will again be participating in a short commercial radio campaign.

The advertising activity will run hand in hand with press and public relations directed by Orchard PR.

Ms Dene emphasised that postal voting is available to anybody on the roll, not just those electors who are unable to get to the polling station through absence or illness.

Electors have until Friday 16 April to register for this. Application forms are available at Sir Charles Frossard House, the Greffe, the Guille-Alles Library, the offices of the parish constables and the douzaine rooms.

Postal voters can also register on-line at www.gov.gg/election2004 or by telephoning 717369. It is not possible to vote on-line.