What preposition do I use -- on, to, for, -- when writing "stand for election" for a group?

Question

Hopefully this is a simple question, although possibly too simple for this site - if so I apologise!

Which, if any, are acceptable phrases:

...stand for election on a place on the group

...stand for election to a place on the group

...stand for election for a place on the group

I'm immediately drawn to the final option, but the use of 'for election for' bugs me somewhat - I don't know why.

I touched up the formatting a bit. Do you mind adding some sample words in each of your examples? The second ellipsis is a bit distracting. — MrHen, Commented May 10, 2011 at 18:37

mgb · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-10 22:53:51Z

1

In BE you stand for an election for a place but to a body.
So election to a parliament for a constituency.

You can also stand on a platform - where platform is a policy. eg standing on a platform for tax-cuts.

answered May 10, 2011 at 18:20

mgb

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In AmE, elections are not stood for.
– Peter Shor
Commented May 10, 2011 at 18:23
Thanks Martin.. my case is BE and your answer makes things a lot more simple.
– Tabloo Quijico
Commented May 10, 2011 at 18:31
@Peter, to be fair we can't really stand them either - but there doesn't seem to be any workable alternative
– mgb
Commented May 10, 2011 at 18:53
I don't thing I've ever heard of a candidate "standing on a platform" in AE, except maybe in the most literal sense. A candidate can be said to stand for a position or issue--"he stands for tax cuts"--although we would be much more likely to simply say "He supports tax cuts."
– phenry
Commented May 10, 2011 at 22:19
@Martin: Googling, I find that it appears that candidates "stand on a platform" in England, Scotland, Australia, and Singapore, but not usually in the U.S. In AmE, we would run for election and run on a platform of tax cuts. Strangely, though, despite running instead of standing, our politicians don't appear to be any more athletic than yours.
– Peter Shor
Commented May 10, 2011 at 22:46

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