POLITICAL GLOSSARY
Below is a list of terms that volunteers may find useful when working with a campaign in Cheshire County.
CANVASSING – A grass roots activity where volunteers walk door to door in a specific neighborhood with a map, a list of registered voters and campaign material to speak with them, hand out campaign literature and talk about issues. This is also to identify supporters and volunteers. This is the most effective way to earn votes.
PHONE BANKING – A grass roots activity where volunteers call voters to identify and/or persuade undecideds. This is the second most effective way to earn votes and is also the most time efficient. This helps the campaign to build its base, identify important issues and find volunteers.
CHASE CALLS – Calling a specific group of people to gauge reaction to a campaign action such as a mailing, an event invitation or an advertisement. This help campaigns plan and strategize.
LITERATURE DROP (Lit. Drop) – Dropping off campaign information, material or invitation on the door/door step of a specific group of people. A fast was to get the campaign message out.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR (LTE) – To write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper to be published. Letters usually focus on a particular reason for supporting or opposing a candidate, issue or organization. Campaigns are willing provide information and/or talking points when requested by the writer. This activity is helpful because the ideas and opinions reach a wider audience of voters and because the opinion comes from a local person. Local voters are much more likely to listen to people in their community than the official campaign.
VISIBILITY – Holding campaign signs in a visible, high traffic area. Visibility increases the candidate’s name recognition. While this is helpful (and fun) it does not identify volunteers or supporters.
DATA ENTRY – Entering information gathered during phone banks and canvasses into a central voter database. This information can be used in many different helpful ways.
TABLING – Sitting at a table full of campaign material at a highly visible location to pass out campaign literature, information and to sign up supporters/volunteers.
CLIPBOARDING – Approaching members of a pre-existing (built in) crowd to see if they are interested in becoming involved in the campaign.
FLYERING – Putting up informational posters on upcoming campaign events in highly visible, highly trafficked areas such as community bulletin boards and businesses. Permission should be asked to put up the posters. This helps get the word out to a wider audience.
