There has been a good deal of talk about how the July 24 General Election will place more emphasis than ever before on the strength of individual candidates following the change to single-seat constituencies.

The change does mean that weaker candidates will not be able to rely on stronger running mates to bring them into the House of Assembly and that all candidates, incumbent or otherwise, will have to get out and press the flesh as they adapt to constituencies that will not be exactly the same as they were under the old dual-seat system.

To that extent, name recognition and charisma will be important. But voters should also be concerned about the issues at stake in this election. Elections are not popularity contests, even though the content of a candidate's character is always important.

In the end, it will be each party's policy positions and philosophies that will play a large part in how people will vote.

With that in mind, Bermuda has the opportunity to fight a clean election that focuses on the issues and the differences between the parties, and to avoid this long campaign not turning into a political cat fight.

As The Royal Gazette reported today, this does not preclude the debate from focusing on the two major parties' styles of government.

Before the last election, the United Bermuda Party was accused of being out of touch and arrogant. In this election, the UBP is almost certain to focus on the Progressive Labour Party's tendency to make decisions in secret and whether it has fulfilled its 1998 promise of a Government operating "in the sunshine of public scrutiny".

That is a legitimate issue, and it is clear already that the UBP intends to raise it. How the Government responds could well be a deciding factor in the election.

Other issues will include the shortage of affordable housing and the ongoing investigation into the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal and continued concerns about progress on the Berkeley site.

Health care, especially for senior citizens, must figure in the election campaign, and it will be interesting to see how the parties outline their different approaches to the problem, which is only likely to grow.

Indeed, a wider issue that should be at the forefront of the debate is how Bermuda intends to deal with an ageing population and the dual problem of adequate pensions, health insurance for people who have retired.

This cannot be dodged any longer and the ramifications for the community are enormous. Not only does the Island have to ensure that seniors will enjoy a decent standard of living, but it has to think seriously about how it will supply the workforce.

With more Bermudians entering retirement and fewer Bermudians entering the workforce, the demand for non-Bermudian labour will grow, especially if the economy continues to expand and people continue to live longer. This is a complex and difficult subject that cannot be dealt with in a sound bite; that does not mean candidates should not be pressed on the issue - they should.

Most other questions about the future of the Island in the next five years and beyond are affected by this issue. It is up to the voters to get answers to it.