How to Win Elections

How to Win Elections

Introduction

Starting Point

Types of Election

Electoral Areas

Polling Districts

Pre-Campaign

Electoral Register

Manifesto

Registering as a Candidate

Campaign

Canvassers

Leaflets

Local Press

Press Release

Public Meetings

Online Campaigning

Eve of Election

Knock-Up Areas

Election Day

Number Tellers

Knocking-Up

The Count

Post Election Party

Post Election

Election Expenses

Summary

About The Author

Resources

Canvassers

Canvassers are footsoldiers of politics without whom none of the parties could function. They are in the vast majority of cases the only people from a political party that most of the public ever meet in person. It follows therefore that they should be well prepared for their job.

Canvassers should be briefed before they canvass on what issues may be brought up on the doorsteps and what the candidate’s / party’s line on the issues are. They should be equipped with canvass packs that should include leaflets, window posters and Out Cards. Out Cards are simply calling cards that say on them that the party called. They are put through the letterbox of any households that do not answer their doors, even if you think they are in. If they want to play games, play along.

There are many myths about canvassing. The main one being that it is the canvasser’s job to convince electors to vote for the candidate of whose behalf they are canvassing. Unless the candidate is canvassing on their own behalf this is not the canvasser’s role. Their role is to ask voters how they intend to vote and to record that intention.

Canvass returns should be collected and the details stored. In particular there are two bits of information you need to keep track of – who has been canvassed and who intends to vote for your candidate. Canvass as widely as possible within your resources. If you are short of volunteers you can concentrate your canvassing in one or more polling districts rather than cover a whole ward. You will use the information you collect whilst canvassing on the Eve of Election Day and on Election Day itself.

Continue to Leaflets....