Author's Note: More electioneering here, and a chance to assess the wider landscape as well as see how the candidates get on with their first official election event.

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Engagement

Plutarch Heavensbee had a job to do. He was to oversee communications with the population at large, who would be voting in under two weeks' time. There were concerning reports of voter apathy, distrust, and in some of the harder to reach areas, a complete lack of knowledge about the election.

Screens were displaying videos on the election process in public places, but those who wished to ignore them did so and those who stayed in their rural villages never saw them. Choosing names and faces for publicity campaigns was a tricky task too. He was not the ideal figure, people distrusted him. The council were image-conscious, and with candidates among them, their role would be to assist behind the scenes. Anyone with a recognisable association from the past was out, and some people he worked with were simply not camera ready.

He had sent teams out into the districts to find people eager for their chance to vote to speak on camera, hoping that familiarity and authenticity would work on those reluctant to turn out on the day. Their interviews would be shown on the news and in between the new programming and information that was appearing haphazardly on people's screens.

But this would still not reach those who lived in the most rural locations and those who shunned the media. He had tried sending colleagues out to the more isolated areas, but this proved expensive, and people were suspicious of strangers arriving in their communities. So, Plutarch had decided to let district leaders take charge of engaging those hardest to reach.

Illiteracy was another issue to contend with. Television broadcasts were advantageous in that respect, but newspaper entries and leaflets were ineffective. Children had left school young across many of the districts, often when their parents could no longer afford to keep them away from work and needed the extra money they could provide. Thus, people lost the skills they developed in school, or in many cases, never developed them at all. They could read and understand what they needed to get by but would struggle with unfamiliar material.

Voters would need to be able to read the instructions on their ballot paper, the signs in the election venues and be able to understand the process and results. Several potential solutions such as having headshots of the candidates next to their names on the ballot paper or associating candidates with a certain colour, to be replicated on the ballot were being suggested. But a decision had to be made quickly. The papers had to be printed, the venues prepared, and the election night broadcast planned.

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The candidates also had a role to play in voter engagement. They were encouraged at every turn to encourage the people they were visiting to vote on election day and to remind people of key information. A high turnout was in their favour too. After all, the more people they could get interested and engaged with their campaign and ideas, the more promising their chances.

Kersey Paylor was having a particularly successful run of events. After an expectedly popular visit home to Eight, engaging with her people and answering questions, she made her first visit to District One to attend a meeting on the rebuilding of their economy. She proved an effective listener, a great communicator and demonstrated an understanding of key concerns across all groups. She wanted the miners to have safe working conditions when they did decide to return underground, for the craftsmen to have more control in what they produced, and for the family-run jewellers and musicians to have successful businesses once more. She was also able to set up contacts with people in Eight to forge new partnerships between workers across similar industries. People felt listened to and Paylor departed One having secured more votes for herself and having persuaded many of those who were uncertain to vote on election day.

She would return to the council for more meetings and decision-making but then make another trip west. First to Three where a visit to its university to encourage its expansion was on the agenda and then to Four to see where progress on rebuilding was really being made and to discuss collaboration. Visits to Six and Seven would also follow and ultimately cement a strong voter base in those districts.

Lucinda had predictable success at her home in Five. People were keen to discuss the promotion of their interests and how they could share the burden of bringing the power back to the entire nation whilst improving the system at the same time. But Five was a place where apathy had set in, in some areas. Many communities had managed well under the old regime and were reluctant to throw away their old ties and embrace the new. Others were fearful of repercussions for having made more money than workers in other districts. But seeing one of their own within the new system, wanting the top job, wanting to represent them helped somewhat and after various conversations, some were more open to the idea of casting their vote. There were some who would not be convinced, who simply did not want to be convinced, but it had been decided that voting would not be compulsory. Forcing people to engage in a process against their will was not the right image for starting afresh.

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It had been decided that District Thirteen would host the first event where all the candidates would be present. There was to be a question-and-answer session with audience members from Thirteen, Twelve's refugee population and willing volunteers drafted in from other districts.

The day would serve to assist in reintegrating Thirteen back into Panem, allow people to meet those from other districts and introduce the country to Thirteen's way of life after years of isolation. The lights and staging were being set up with teams sent in by Plutarch Heavensbee trying to make Thirteen look brighter and less grey. The candidates not from Thirteen were being given a tour by Montgomery and Silver.

Camera crews were busy getting footage of the audience mingling in the canteen, sharing a meal with countrymen they never had the chance to know. Plutarch Heavensbee, always with an eye on the optics, was keen to comment on how their willingness to get to know one another was a promising sign for the future. Introductions to new people and allowing the candidates to formally introduce themselves to a new audience was to be the theme of the day.

Members of the elections committee were busy putting together final preparations. Beetee was ensuring the television feed would hold up and that the screens in public venues would receive the broadcast. Officials from the Capitol and Thirteen were to brief the candidates immediately prior to the event, whilst Halley was running in amongst the gathering audience, answering questions from those with concerns about appearing on camera in front of the nation.

The broadcast was not mandatory viewing, this was not the Hunger Games after all. There would be no more Hunger Games. People were free to watch as they were free to decide whether they would vote at all. Removing mandatory viewing was a key symbol of change, a break from the old regime. The screens in public venues were for those who did not have television at home and wanted to see the candidates, nobody was going to be forced to attend.

With Thirteen hosting, the event was ready to start on time. The candidates were on stage, the audience was ready, and the broadcast went live to an expectant nation. The event was to be hosted by Olivia Augustine, a very junior Capitol news presenter who had proven her worth to Plutarch Heavensbee and seemed to be gaining trust with the public. There were very few complaints about her reporting. She seemed diligent, thoughtful and to everyone's relief had minimal connections to the wrongdoing of many of her seniors.

Olivia duly welcomed everyone to District Thirteen, the first real look at the isolated district in over seventy-five years and explained the purpose of the event. The population of Panem were to get to know each of the candidates individually and then audience members would get to ask questions to be answered either by all the candidates or by an individual.

Each of the candidates spoke in turn, introducing themselves, their background, and a summary of their ideas before the host opened the floor to questions. Audience members willing to ask questions had been whittled down and vetoed where appropriate to minimise the risk of someone launching into a tirade or personal attack live on-air and wasting valuable moments. Otherwise, care had been taken to ensure a variety of members of the public were chosen, covering a suitable array of topics reflecting common priorities and making sure those who had travelled from further afield had not made a wasted journey.

But as expected, District Thirteen started the questioning. They wanted to pick between their two homegrown candidates and wanted to know who truly reflected their viewpoints. It was clear, however, that it would be a tight race between Silver and Montgomery. Some liked the latter's more assertive approach whilst others felt more comfortable with Silver's conciliatory, measured approach, especially as they were re-joining the nation as an unknown. But District Thirteen also wanted to be rewarded, they had worked and endured for years and were able to provide the impetus which broke the old order and wanted to see their status restored. Each candidate promised Thirteen's integration into Panem's new society with civil servants to be offered roles, prominent government and military jobs to be assigned, as well as the district playing a crucial part in medical and educational advancements across the nation.

Keen to open up the conversation, Olivia selected a woman from Eleven to ask a question aimed at a different candidate.

The woman introduced herself as an agricultural labourer and knowing she spoke for many of the audience members, simply asked, "Ophelia, you are from the Capitol. How can any of us from the districts trust you?"

Ophelia was keen to reply, "I understand that I am asking an awful lot of people. I am sorry for what has happened to so many across the districts and I am sorry that it was done in the name of the Capitol. Most Capitol folk are also workers and whilst most of our lives were easier and more comfortable, I like to think that there is some common ground, enough with which to build bridges. I know that trust may be too far at this stage, but I hope that listening and creating a common understanding would be possible. I wish to create a forward-looking Panem, an outward-looking Capitol that has its place in our nation, but on a more equal footing."

The questions moved on to an audience member visiting from District Two who directed his question to Colonel Lon, "How can you speak to the entire country when you can't even speak for District Two. You are in the minority."

Colonel Lon was quick to respond, "I do not think I am in the minority. I believe I speak for the silent majority, and not only in Two, but in the Capitol, parts of District One and further afield where people enjoyed the stability and rewards of our previous system. The Capitol was a guiding hand, holding the country together and now there is instability and chaos. People did not want their lives to be upended in the way they have; they want normality restored."

"That normality was nothing to be proud of," Paylor cut in, to applause from the audience.

Olivia quickly brought events back on track. There was to be a debate the following week, marking exactly one week until the election where there would be time for response and rebuttal from the other candidates. Today was for directed, specific questions. But Colonel Lon had caused disquiet amongst many audience members and there would still be muttering and grumbling for a while.

The next questioner, a young woman, a teacher from Twelve was hurriedly introduced, "A question for Lucinda. You best represent those in the districts whose industries were in demand and who did not live in the conditions most did in Twelve, so what would you do to rebalance the work we do so that every district can benefit."

It was a question Five's candidate was prepared for, "Firstly, I would like to extend my deepest sorrow to the survivors from District Twelve and to all those who were lost. Like so many others, I was horrified to hear the news and see the footage and for those of you who lived it, I cannot imagine what you have experienced. But, to address your question, I want everyone to be able to have good, safe work, to feel like their jobs are benefitting the country as we rebuild. I would really like to support small family businesses, promote education and share our skills across Panem. We in Five have been in demand, but it has been a great burden, putting a huge strain on my district. So, I would like to introduce a scheme where we can share our skills, where people who want to learn a different trade can do so and bring those skills back home. It is also obvious that we need to consider how we split our expertise and trades across the districts. We cannot go back to how we were before."

The next question followed on neatly, a woman from One who asked of Ophelia, "What will the Capitol bring to Panem as we rebuild? In One, luxury covers a wide variety of trades and across the districts, we have so many people who can make, build and grow what we need. But what can the Capitol bring?"

"Following on from Lucinda's excellent point, I also think we need to reconsider and rebalance our system of designated industries. The workload needs to be spread out and managed better. But in terms of the Capitol, we can provide our expertise in administration and organisation to developing local governments, businesses of all sizes and the reconstruction across the country. We have the chance to bring the benefits of a proper healthcare system to every district, not just hoarding what we know and what we have. I hope that we can spread the benefits of further education across Panem and also offer entertainment and creativity. We have had a thriving arts sector in the Capitol that could contribute to new television programming, films and literature and having something new and different to enjoy in life can make this difficult time that little bit easier."

As the event drew to a close, an older man from District Four addressed Kersey Paylor, "Commander Paylor, you have been a military leader and local organiser, how will you bring that experience to leading the whole country?"

Paylor smiled, pleased to have the opportunity to address her leadership experience without the questioner coming from a place of hostility, "I will not hide the fact that it will be a challenge. The presidency will not be straightforward for anybody, no matter their previous experience. I have worked in a factory for years, as so many of you across the country will have done. I have also led community organisations and tried to help those worse off as well as some 'less official' activities in Eight, shall we say. I fought on the front line and met so many people from across the country and I like to think that I will be able to use what I know about us all to drive us forward. We all share so many priorities, and they are my priorities too. I have always known how important it is to be able to go to work safely, as I have witnessed the consequences of unsafe work, just like so many of you will have done. I know from personal experience what it is like to go hungry, I have both received and given assistance with food, and now on the council, I have been involved in similar discussions. I know all the things I wanted when I was growing up, when working in the factory, when fighting together with everyone else and I think most of us want the same and I would start with trying to get those basics right for us all."

With that, Olivia addressed the candidates for final closing remarks and brought the event to an end. The elections committee had deemed the broadcast a success and there seemed to be genuine interest and enthusiasm across the audience. They would wait until Beetee's data showed how many people had watched at home and until local leaders could report on public attendance, but the overall reception so far had been positive.

It was clear who the public favourites were with just under two weeks before election day, but there were still more events, more campaigning, and more work to be done before the final decision would be made.