Toward Creation of a Precinct Organizing Manual

First, the term ‘Precinct Committee Officer’ is atrocious, sounding like some communist bureaucrat. With PCOs elected or appointed for fewer than 30% of our precincts, virtually none have any committees for which they are officers. The more apt term ‘Precinct Organizer (PO) will be used here.

Objectives of the PO Manual

The rational objective of a Democratic PO manual is to enable POs to effectively and efficiently perform their role to organize their precinct so that Democrats thrive and multiply, and in the short run, vote to elect Democratic candidates. The existential aim of the manual is to stimulate POs to perform their role well, through understanding the importance of the role and how to perform the necessary tasks. The manual is to serve as a training tool and a guide to effective PO action.

The Vision and Mission of the PO

As with any effective manual, our PO manual should begin with a statement of the vision. This vision is to elect Democratic candidates who will act to realize our American Dream. Our Dream consists of enhancing freedoms and opportunities and extending them to all, acting competently and compassionately in cooperation with others here and abroad. It is this vision which justifies our precinct organizing and serves as our bottom line.

The mission of the PO is to realize our vision. Electing Democratic candidates depends crucially upon identifying likely Democratic voters and stimulating them to register and vote. The term ‘likely Democratic candidates’ is used because it refers to both liberal Democrats and liberal Independents who are both likely to vote for Democrats. A Democratic vote by an Independent is just as important as a vote by a Democrat. In the longer run, electing Democratic candidates depends upon creating precincts in which likely Democratic voters and particularly Democrats thrive and multiply.

Canvassing

The primary task of the PO is to identify likely Democratic voters, who can then be approached by volunteers and candidates to stimulate them to vote. Identifying likely Democratic voters is best done through canvassing. The POs are primarily responsible for ensuring that canvassing is done, likely Democratic voters are identified, registered and given Democratic literature. Information concerning likely Democratic voters is entered in the Democratic Party legislative district and state voter databases and shared with Democratic candidates, who can then contact them by mail, email and phone. Hopefully the more passionate voters will also receive a regular newsletter to inform and motivate them concerning Democratic intentions, candidates and activities. A major objective for the PO is to obtain data concerning all of the voters in the precinct.

Our Voter Database

The best database would contain records for each housing unit in the precinct, and each potential voter in these housing units. For each voter, it would contain fields for last name, first name, address, phone number, email address, political orientation (Republican, Cynical, Democratic, Undecided, Not eligible, or vacant), whether member of an activist group which receives newsletters), source of information, etc.

Data from interviews is promptly put in the database. Reports such as walking lists are easily obtained to guide canvassing. Other reports are provided to candidates to assist their voter contacts.

Types of Canvassing

Our present Democratic state database typically identifies fewer than 40% of likely democratic voters in most precincts. A high priority is canvassing to identify most of the remaining 60% or more. Secondly, canvassing should be done of previously identified likely democratic voters, to verify their status, to inform them about party activities and candidates and to recruit them into Democratic party activities.

In Lake Hills, we canvassed unidentified voters first and then canvassed previously identified voters to give them candidate literature. But it may be desirable to canvass previously identified voters first (who are more likely to be activists) in order to recruit additional canvassers. A third form of canvassing is to welcome newcomers. Finally, canvassing can be done simply to give literature to likely Democratic voting householders or leave it on their doorstep. The procedures (particularly the scripts) for these different types of canvassing are different.

Scripts are necessary for polish and efficiency. Successful ones are recommended below. But each canvasser may modify them based upon their experience. I recommend only doing one type of canvassing at a time, because using different scripts becomes confusing.

Who, When, With What

In most neighborhoods, women can safely canvass alone. No one is likely to pull them inside to harm them. But for comfort, some women may prefer to canvas in pairs, perhaps visiting on opposite sides of the street.

Fewer people are home during weekdays, but by visiting those who are, fewer remain for evening and weekend visits. Evening canvassing can occur from 4:30 to 9 PM or dark if sooner. People eat at all times, so don’t try to avoid dinnertime. If someone is busy, just leave and return later. Or maybe indicate you promise to be there less than a minute. If they only allow you a minute, that is enough unless they are likely Democratic voters. For likely Democratic voters, before the minute is up, inform them that you will leave, but need to return for another 3 minutes.

If you encounter a likely Republican voter, you want to leave as quickly and undramatically as possible, hoping they will forget that you came, that Democrats are active, and that elections occur. Also leave cynics quickly to avoid wasting time. Information about undecided voters, unqualified (non-citizen) voters and upcoming vacancies can be obtained in less that a minute.

Carry a walking list, a clipboard with a form for entering data, registration forms, brochures and other gifts for newcomers and identified likely Democratic voters. Using the walking list, go efficiently from one target household to another with some combination of walking and driving.

Canvassing Unidentified Voters

Knock. Knock. Or doorbell. “Hello, I’m Dave Thomas. I’m your neighbor. I am visiting because I am disgusted with President Bush and the Republicans in Congress. I am looking for people who feel pretty much the same. Introduce yourself as a neighbor, not a Democratic organizer and you will get a much warmer welcome. Keep it folksy.

Most householders will quickly identify themselves. “You’re at the wrong house. I don’t agree with you. I support the Republicans. I am not political. All politicians are alike. They are all crooks. My vote wouldn’t make any difference. I can’t vote. I am just visiting from Australia. I am moving next month. Etc.” Upon receiving these responses, thank them and quickly leave. I sometimes spend a few minutes with new immigrants, asking whether and when they expect to obtain citizenship and welcoming them to our neighborhood.

For others who smile and indicate they feel pretty much the same, tell them you have a gift. Give them a generic Democratic Party brochure (listing our priorities in contrast with our opponents) and candidate brochures. Other gifts might include directories of services such as Kirkland provides for eastside services, and League of Women Voters’ They Represent You guides. Say a few good words about the candidates (She has much experience, particularly with transportation issues. He is particularly concerned with early childhood education. Etc.) Ask if anyone needs a voter registration form.

Then tell them they can receive a trial email newsletter to learn about issues and activities in the area. For those who say yes, ask for their email address and phone number for checking when emails bounce. Inform them of the regular legislative district Democratic meetings and invite them to attend.

Some voters will be more hesitant, perhaps saying that they vote for the best person. Ask them if they usually vote for Democrats or Republicans. If they won’t indicate one or the other, ask them a few issues questions: Iraq war, health care, stem cell research, climate warming. As soon as you decide you want them to vote, consider them to be likely Democratic voters and treat them as described above. We only about 5 per precinct whom we coded as undecided.

Even interviews with likely Democratic voters need last more than 5 minutes. But you may find them so enjoyable, you are willing to spend an extra five minutes. In Lake Hills, we recruited them to receive our Puget Sound Liberals newsletter, which required spending time reviewing the values which defined our liberalism. [You can receive a Puget Liberals Flyer, a generic Democratic Party Flyer and data recording forms by requesting them.]

Immediately upon visiting a house, or while visiting with likely Democratic voters, record the information on the recording form on the clipboard. Be careful to get email addresses right. I prefer to only spend than two hours canvassing, with only 1 to 3 sessions per day. Many people aren’t home, but we average finding 2-3 likely Democratic voters households per hour, containing 4-5 voters.

Canvassing Previously Identified Democratic Voters

Canvassing previously identified likely Democratic voters is simpler, because unless someone has moved, the households are already identified. Here the intention is to quickly verify that they are likely Democratic voters and then explore ways that they might become more active with the Democratic Party and other advocacy organizations. Proceed as those you and they are on the same team, trying to learn how they can realize their political values.

Welcoming Newcomers

Knock. Knock. “Hello, I’m Dave Thomas. I’m your neighbor. I understand you are new to our Lake Hills neighborhood. I want to welcome you. Where have you come from? Have you had any difficulty getting settled? I have a gift for you (a directory of social services or political officials). We have a strong Democratic party here. Do you usually vote Democratic?” Leaving time for them to answer and talk.

Then proceed as described above, either leaving quickly or providing them information about our party, candidates, newsletter and meetings.

Distributing Literature

Before elections, you may canvass simply to distribute literature to likely Democratic voters. Using the walking list, visit the appropriate homes, knocking on doors or simply leaving the literature by the door. The latter may be slightly more effective, but it is much more time consuming.

Potlucks, Forums and Other Activities

POs should also organize potlucks and forums for candidates or concerning issues. For example, we arranged a presentation by our police concerning neighborhood crime prevention. We also attempted to stimulate people to arrange non-political all inclusive block parties, but with little apparent success. These events will generally be organized for an area larger than a single precinct.

Precinct Clusters and Precinct Cluster Teams

It is difficult to recruit a PO in each precinct. POs acting alone are often unmotivated to canvass their precincts. Each legislative district should define precinct clusters of 10 to 20 precincts. For example, see a map of 46^th LD precinct clusters. A Cluster team should then be organized, which includes POs and other participants in Democratic activities. This team is responsible for canvassing all of the precincts in the cluster. They may first canvass known likely Democratic voters to verify their orientation and to recruit additional team members. They then canvass residents whose orientation is unknown.

Recruiting POs

It is often difficult to recruit people as POs. Another approach is to ask people to assist with canvassing. After they have done some canvassing, they can then be asked to become POs since they are already doing the work.

Training POs and other Canvassers

Training POs and other canvassers consists of teaching them the knowledge which is being presented here. Begin with the vision and mission, then indicate the necessity of canvassing and neighborhood cluster development, and discuss the details of canvassing, including role playing.