Canvassing 101
The idea of going door to door to talk about an issue or candidate may sound daunting, but once you’re prepared, it’s a great way to take action and educate! People listen better with one-on-one conversations, and if you make eye contact, smile, be firm but friendly, as well as truthful, you might gain an ally! IMPORTANT*Remember to always use the buddy system when canvassing!*
I. Plan It
Get a map (http://www.mapquest.com) of the area you want to canvass. It’s best if you already know the area a little before beginning. Live on a college campus? Go dorm canvassing. If you do this, plan on doing it for a few nights, since schedules differ daily. Get the people going with you from your club, organization, or friends ready with copies of the map, materials (below), and schedule. A good idea would be to map out a whole neighborhood, and then divide it among teams to take different streets to cover more ground.
II. Prepare
You’ll need:
- Clipboards
- Pens
- Literature (depending on your issue—voter registration forms (http://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf), petitions (http://www.youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=235), etc.)
- Script prepared in advance
- Tally sheets
In your script, you want to be as clear and brief as possible. Start by introducing yourself (you don’t need your whole name) and what organization you’re with. Then, ask for the action—would you like to register to vote? Would you like to sign my petition? Would you like to join our mailing list? No matter the answer, remember to say thank you for their time, and always be polite—even if they’re not!
Sample Scripts:
“Hi, my name is ___________ and I’m from the campus ___________ . We’re out getting people registered to vote today. Would you like to register with me for free today?”
“Good afternoon, I’m ________ with ____________. We’re in the neighborhood getting signatures for a petition against child abuse offenders’ parole. Would you like to sign?”
“Good morning! My name is _______ and I’m out canvassing for candidate _______ today. Can I interest you in some of her literature?”
Your tallies will depend on what you are counting. Do you want names and phone numbers for possible memberships? Do you want to keep track of how many people are interested in voting for your candidate? Your tally could look something like this:
Name Address Phone E-Mail Voting?
Gary Potter 123 Sesame Street 555-5555 scarhead@whomail.com Yes
Rome Hilton 999 Elm Street 888-8888 blondie@dada.com No
Carrie 6666 Creepy Lane 666-6666 laughatyou@prom.com Maybe
Then, you can keep track of who said yes to follow up with—and who said maybe, so you can talk to them again later to see if they’ve decided.
III. Get on the Street!
Here are some tips while you go door to door:
- Knock twice. Sometimes people can’t hear you the first time.
- Knock, even if there is no car in the driveway. Someone may still be there.
- Smile and make eye contact as soon as you can. They’ll be more apt to listen.
- Speak slowly and clearly, in a friendly tone, while you keep eye contact.
- If they are rude, do not be rude back. Just say, “Thank you for your time.”
- Always thank the person, whether they agree with you or not.
- Try to hand out some kind of literature if you are out for a candidate or cause.
- Dress appropriately. If it’s cold, wear a sweater!
- Bring a hat or visor, a water bottle, and your supplies.
- Put on some sun block.
- Wear good walking shoes.
- Have one person be designated as a driver, especially if it’s a hot day, to patrol the neighborhood to make sure everyone is doing okay—and to reprieve anyone needing a break!
