With just 24 hours to go before the polling stations open for the National Assembly elections, we put each of the five candidates under the spotlight and ask them just how relevenat the elections are for the people of Ceredigion?

Q: Why should people make the effort to vote on May 1?

A: 'The National Assembly has a £12 billion budget to spend on public services and the economy and it's important that the people decide for themselves how that money should be spent and in what priority'. Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru.

A: 'The National Assembly currently spends the equivalent of around £5,000 a year on every person in Wales. It deals with the bread and butter issues that were previously dealt with at Westmister, issues such as health, education, planning, economic development and farming, which are all very close to people's hearts. For this reason alone it's important to use your vote.' O J Williams, Conservative.

A: 'If people wish to continue being served by a National Assembly then it's imperative that they turn out to vote on Thursday. The Assembly has devolved power to decide how to address key issues such as health, education and rural issues. It's a new Assembly and it's already made a very big difference to the lives of the people of Wales but there's still a great deal to do.' John Davies, Liberal Democrats.

A: 'It's important that the people of Ceredigion realise that their vote on Thursday will make a huge difference to the way in which the country is run. They'll be voting for the issues that matter the most including education, the health of the people of Wales, the cleanliness of our hospitals and the future of rural transport.' Rhianon Passmore, Labour.

Q: Is the National Assembly working?

A: No. The National Assembly should be abolished and replaced with a national council of Wales comprising MPs and an equal number of locally elected people. The money saved by such a move could then be invested in upgrading our schools, hospitals and pensions.' Ian Sheldon, UK Independence. A: 'So far, no. They've got all the wrong priorities and are spending far too much on bureaucracy rather than on frontline services. This needs to be changed to make sure that the National Assembly is a success.' O J Williams.

A: 'Yes, undoubtedly. Mid and West Wales is already stronger under Labour but there's still a lot to be done. Labour is the only party prepared to increase investment to ensure a general rise in standards right across the public sector.' Rhianon Passmore.

Q: Why bother voting when each political party is much the same as the next?

A: 'The priorities between the opposing parties vary considerably. Plaid's priorities are to make sure that the National Assembly focusses on frontline services and to ensure that new jobs and business initiatives are spread evenly across Wales and not just in the industrial south'. Elin Jones.

Q: Do the people of Ceredigion really care about what happens on May 1?

A: 'Definitely. For the past three and a half weeks I've stood on people's doorsteps listening to what they think about the way our country is being run. And the vast majority really do care. Whatever happens on May 1 I've gained a much greater undestanding of the needs of the county and of what needs to be done to improve standards right across the board.' John Davies.

A: 'I'm greatly encouraged by the interest people are showing in what the National Assembly can do for them. Voter apathy is a term much favoured by the media but the reality on the streets is that the people of Ceredigion really do care.' Elin Jones.

A: 'What's coming through the media is that people don't care about the elections, particularly the young but what I've seen throughout the campaign is the exact opposite. People want to talk about the issues that affect them.' Rhianon Passmore.