You can go to voters literally where they live, introduce yourself, and demonstrate live that you’re interested and willing to show up, instead of just saying you are. Walking precincts is one of the keys to winning a city council election.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted a lot of activities, and not everything will go back to the way things were before it arrived. However, as we emerge from the pandemic, you can be sure that candidates for office will still try to do in-person political canvassing because it is a fundamental way to connect with voters. There is literally no substitute for meeting people and asking for their votes, face-to-face.
Walking precincts in a city council election
This aspect of campaigning is so important that candidates at the highest levels still organize in-person canvasses. And for a new arrival on the scene running at the local level, there’s no substitute for in-person outreach. Walking precincts is the best, most tried-and-tested way to meet your constituents.
You’ve got to get out and knock on doors.
There’s an old saying about this – “Who walks, wins.”
You can go to voters literally where they live, introduce yourself, and demonstrate live that you’re interested and willing to show up, instead of just saying you are. Talking to voters on their doorstep about things that impact their lives – that’s a powerful opportunity.
But we get it, the prospect of running for a city council election can feel daunting, and knocking on doors to talk to complete strangers is tough. Here are some tips to get you started:
Consider Time and Space
Anyone nervous about approaching complete strangers at home should know it often takes a lot of effort to have a live conversation with someone you don’t know from Adam. It takes enough effort in fact, that you ought to plan your canvassing around reducing your effort to contact ratio.
Voter data can guide a lot of this planning. Generally, you want to spend more time in areas with registered voters, who vote in local elections at least some of the time. All of this information is available. E-mail us at ElectionContender.com for help obtaining these public records.
The character of the neighborhood also affects how much time you spend walking vs talking. If everyone works 9 to 5, then there’s no sense setting out before 5:30; if shift workers or retirees are numerous, the middle of a weekday can be very fruitful. Whether houses are close together or widely spaced out can affect the return on your time. There are only so many hours in your day and you want to maximize the number of voters with whom you can connect, one-on-one.
If you have blocked off time to canvass, don’t be afraid of a little light rain. It may even earn you some sympathy and even demonstrate that you’re not easily deterred.
But do head home once it gets dark.
Before You Knock
Be aware of your surroundings and yourself before you knock on a door. Hopefully you’re dressed so as to make the kind of impression you would want. You probably don’t want to walk around neighborhoods in a suit and tie. But, you also don’t want your first impression to be that you just finished changing the transmission fluid in your car.
Don’t clutter up your image by having your arms full of stuff. If you’re carrying a clipboard and literature, e.g., hold them beside you or behind you rather than in front of you. Even if you’re collecting signatures–which is a great way to get started with door to door outreach–place yourself in front rather than your clipboard.
Like it or not, most people judge based on appearances, and while you should not make final judgments, you should take note of what you can see while you’re walking up to the porch and climbing the steps. Even before you knock you can get hints about whether a household has kids or pets, or the voters’ personal finances, or even political leanings declared with signs, flags, or stickers.
Make the Visit Count
If you have a good conversation, great. Remember that special person and consider following up, with a note or postcard, or maybe they will even put up a yard sign for you. If you have no more than a brief encounter, make sure to leave some memory of your name. Introduce yourself by name and consider a button or sticker to reinforce that essential name recognition visually. If you can leave behind some literature–which is about all you can do when no one answers–make sure your name is clearly visible.
Keep track of everywhere you’ve been and what resulted, too. This is critical to maximizing the value of all campaign outreach.
ElectionContender.com has the tools, insights, and more than 40-years of experience to help make your campaign a success. Join ElectionContender.com and become a serious contender in your race for a city council election.