Tips for Door-to-Door Campaigning

By Chip Taylor (ctaylor@missouriliberty.com)

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Door-to-door campaigning can be an effective part of your campaign for local office in your city, county, or school district.

Here are some tips that were passed along to me - tips I put to use in a campaign for County Health Trustee a year ago. I can't guarantee that you'll win - I lost. But I made a good run in a four-candidate race against three incumbents who ran as a slate.

Unless you are running in a very small district, you probably won't be able to walk it all. Pick areas where you can talk to a lot of likely voters in a short period of time. Voter lists are available from your county clerk or election board. From these lists, identify the neighborhoods that have a lot of regular voters. If you have the resources, develop a list of specific voters to visit in each neighborhood. If not, pick your areas and then work them street-by-street.

Once you have your area identified, make a schedule and then stick to it. In the evening, after dinner and until eight o'clock or so is good - but never after nine. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are good, too, especially in the spring - people can often be found working in their yard. Don't let bad weather keep you in; people will be impressed if you are out in the rain.

You will want to take along some of your campaign literature, brochures or pamphlets if you have them, just a simple business card, if not. Keep your business card simple. It should feature your name prominently. It should also list the office you are running for and the date of the election. If you have a campaign website put the URL on there, too. Finally, it should have any legally mandated disclosure statement, i.e. "Paid for by the candidate"

If you are like me, the first door will be the hardest. Take a deep breath, put a smile on your face, and knock. When they answer, introduce yourself, shake their hand, and tell them what you are running for. "Hi. I'm Chip Taylor and I'm running to be your dogcatcher." Then offer them one of your business cards. If they don't seem inclined to talk - and most of them won't - thank them and move on.

If they do want to talk, remember that you should listen more than you talk. One question voters are likely to ask is "Why should I vote for you?" You need a good answer - a good, short one. This isn't the time for a long-winded sales pitch; it's mainly an opportunity to make friendly contact and let them see that you don't have horns or a pointed tail.

If no one is home, leave your card or other literature with a handwritten note on it - but not in the mailbox. "Hi, I'm Chip Taylor. Sorry I missed you." You can write a note on some of your cards or other literature ahead of time.

If you are running a more extensive campaign, one that includes a GOTV effort or direct mail, you will want to gather some information. You will want to verify that the name on your voter list is correct. Don't act like a census taker; you can probably find out what you need to know from your introduction. "Hi, Mrs. Doe. I'm Chip Taylor" If she isn't Mrs. Doe, she'll let you know. You will also want to note whether they are for you, against you, or undecided. That will affect how you include them in your mail and GOTV efforts. You may want to have a helper along to make notes, while you concentrate on talking to the voters.

That's all there is to it - all the basics anyway. So get out there and burn some shoe leather. You've got nothing to lose and votes to gain.

Good luck, and happy campaigning.