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Tactic 101s | Canvassing

Here’s an overview of Canvassing – the purpose it serves and how to plan your own canvass. Feel free to drop your thoughts  and experiences with canvassing in the comments. 

Purpose 

Canvasses can be used to:

  • Survey a community
  • Build support for a political candidate
  • Build support for an issue
  • Share information or resources
  • Invite people to an event.

AT LEAST TWO WEEKS OUT

  • Find a location pick a date and time
    • Confirm a location, date, and time
    • When you call a venue, here’s the ask:
      • Can we launch a canvass at your location? We are expecting [x] people from [insert time].
      • If you have a volunteer who is helping to set up/recruit, confirm the above with them and ask them to give you a list of folks they are inviting
  • People answer the door most often during dinner time on weekdays, and on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons/evenings
  • Decide on goal attendance 
  • Promote on email/social media/make calls to potential participants
  • Create canvassing training specific for this event

AT LEAST ONE WEEK OUT

  • Solidify a script 
  • Confirm the launch location
  • Send reminder emails to registered participants, continue to recruit others
  • Decide on your general walk list
  • Confirm training, tech, and support roles for the canvass training and launch
  • Confirm literature or other relevant materials

AT LEAST 2 DAYS OUT

  • Confirmation calls to registered participants

DAY BEFORE 

  • Confirmation calls to registered participants who didn’t answer in the first round of calls
  • Refresh walk list and print any necessary materials

DAY OF (Before Canvass)

  • Call or text confirmations to registered participants 
  • Arrive at location early to set up

DAY OF (After Canvass)

  • Send a thank you email to all participants- include next steps for participants
  • Share successes on social/traditional media

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