By Steve Pressman

Canvassing is the best way to convince people to vote. But it’s a lot of work! Here are some handy guidelines to make your canvassing a success:

Do

• Dress appropriately and wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Take pens, clips, ziplock bag, snacks and water.
• Be polite, friendly and positive. It is more important that you leave a favorable impression than that you know all the issues.
• If you can’t answer a question, say “I don’t know” and offer to have campaign get back to them.
• Respect “No Trespassing” signs.
• Get all of the information you need.
• Spend no more than 3-4 minutes with a single voter.
• For Get Out The Vote, focus on their plan for voting.
• Expect most houses to not answer.
• Knock every door assigned, even if no sign they’re home.
• Knock and ring bell a few times, wait about 45 seconds.
• Be quick and just hand literature to a voter obviously busy with kids, phone call, etc.
• Legibly record results from each house.
• Expect to hit 12-25 doors per hour, less with a persuasion script, more with a GOTV script.
• Speak with sincerity about why you are volunteering and supporting the candidate.
• Finish by thanking them for talking with you.
• If no one is home, leave literature slid in or under door.
• Try to make duplicate copies of walk lists, so you can leapfrog houses or do opposite sides of street with your partner.
• Get cell phone numbers of canvass partners.

Do Not

• Open screen/storm door or step into doorway until voter opens door.
• Enter voter’s home.
• Wear sunglasses at the door.
• Don’t initiate handshake or other physical contact.
• Argue with a voter.
• Be negative about opponent.
• Leave literature in mailboxes (illegal).
• Walk on lawns.
• Start by asking permission or time to talk.
• Give long, rambling speeches.
• Read every word of script or go off-message.
• Get bogged down in long conversation. Politely cut it off.
• Don’t make up information or an answer when you don’t know. Refer voter to campaign office.
• Skip a house with “No Soliciting” sign.  You’re not selling anything.
• Waste time if voter never votes Democratic.
• Go back to doors that didn’t answer.
• Get discouraged if most houses don’t answer.