Election debates can feel like political boxing matches. One candidate lands a joke. Another goes on the attack. A leader dodges a hard question with a polished sentence, and supporters online declare victory before the closing statements. But a voter’s job isn’t to score the entertainment. Your job is to test judgment — to watch actively, not just react. With a little structure, a debate becomes one of the most useful tools you have.
A debate isn’t a performance to enjoy. It’s an interview you’re conducting from your couch.
Before the debate
Walk in with your top three issues already written down — the ones from earlier in this series. Whether that’s housing, health care, taxes, immigration, jobs, childcare, safety, transit, climate, or education, knowing your list in advance means you’ll notice immediately whether a candidate actually addresses what you care about, or only what they want to talk about.
During the debate
Track whether they…
- Answered the actual question
- Gave specifics
- Explained the cost
- Explained the timeline
- Respected facts
- Handled criticism
- Admitted trade-offs
- Stayed within the power of the office
Watch for these tricks
- Answering a different question
- Repeating slogans
- Attacking instead of explaining
- Dramatic numbers with no context
- Pretending every problem has one cause
- Promising things outside their control
- Interrupting as a strategy
- Sounding confident while saying little
What matters more than style
Keep this
The candidate who “won” the debate online is often just the one who landed the best line. The candidate who deserves your vote is the one who answered the most questions honestly.
Watch with a pen in hand. Use the debate scorecard below to rate each candidate on substance — and trust your notes over the post-debate noise.
This guide is for general civic education only and is strictly non-partisan. It does not favour any candidate or party. Verify debate claims against official platforms and independent reporting before you decide.
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