Stay to get the election started - to get it going (6)
I believe the answer is:
propel
'the election started to get it going' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'stay to' is the wordplay.
'stay' becomes 'prop' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to' becomes 'el' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'prop'+'el'='PROPEL'
'get' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for propel that I've seen before include "Drive or push forward as with oars" , "Derive of push forward" , "Push forwards" , "Cause to move forward with force" , "Drive forwards" .)