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