Canvassing Procedures


Canvassers will need the following materials:

  1. Canvassing List of yard sign households to be canvassed

  2. Canvassing Recording Form for recording household data

  3. Canvassing Procedures, including Script

  4. Lake Hills Liberals Brochure

Canvassers will typically interview in 2-person teams, especially at first while canvassers are being trained, although canvassers may canvass alone. There are 2 roles, the role of interviewer and the role of recorder. The recorder will decide from the list of yard sign households, which household to interview next. Note any households, which have liberal bumper stickers. The interviewer will conduct the interview, using the following interview script. (An experienced interviewer may modify the script to what he or she finds effective.)

Canvassing Script

Introduction
Hello. I’m Dave Thomas and I’m a neighbor of yours. I noticed that you displayed a Democratic yard sign in the last election. You might be interested in a neighborhood group we’re forming here in Lake Hills to help liberals meet each other and work together to help return our country to the values that we share. May I tell you about it?

If they say ‘no’, then ask how they would label their political view and leave quickly. Our Values
We are compassionate liberals. We believe all Americans should have the same freedoms and opportunities, with the responsibility to protect the freedoms and opportunities of all other Americans. We believe that our next elections must produce more compassionate and competent office holders at local, state and national levels. Do you agree with us? ? If they say ‘no’, then ask how they would label their political view and leave quickly.

Our Activities and Their Participation

  1. Tell them that after one month, we have 20 members. Show them our Lake Hills Neighborhood Brochure. Review the 6 activities we are doing. Ask if they would like to join us.

  2. Tell them that we want members who not only agree with our values, but will also work with us to implement them. The primarily criteria for allowing an applicant to join our group is the extent to which the applicant shows a serious willingness to participate in our canvassing, vigiling, writing letters, organizing gatherings, etc. We do not want members who just want to profess liberal beliefs without working with us to implement them.

  3. Ask for each activity, would they participate. If they don’t respond yes to a significant number of activities, tell them we want their name so we won’t contact them again. The decision to allow the applicant to join will be made by the interviewer. If they respond yes to a significant number of activities, tell them they are now members.

  4. Ask them to immediately join our Eastside Liberals email list. Obtain name, their email address, phone number, other household voters’ names and viewpoint. Tell them we will contact them about participating in the other activities. Tell them we will bring a yard sign when we have 20 people who will put them in their yard. (When we have yard signs and bumper stickers, the interviewer will immediately place them in the yard and on the car of willing householders.)

Data Recording
The recorder will record the householders contact information, political orientation and areas where they will participate. Ask if they know others that we should interview. Show that we are interested in the new member and that they will enjoy meeting the other members of the group by spending a minutes getting to know him or her.

Follow Up
The householder information will be sent to the database manager for entry into our Voter Database. He will approve applications to our Eastside Liberals email list, add new members to our LHL contact list and consider assignments to new members. Follow up to be sure each new member joins our Eastside Liberals email list.