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....