Precinct Organizing
Starting in your own backyard
What is a “Precinct?”
• Also known as ‘Electoral Districts’, ‘Towns’ or ‘Wards’
• All voters have the same ballot and elected officials
• Have a set number of voters
• Have continuous boundaries
What is a “Precinct?”
Smallest administrative electoral unit
Nation State District County Precinct
Campaigning and Party Building
• Two types of precinct organizing– Campaign precinct
organizing– Neighborhood precinct
organizing or party building
• Different goals & strategies
• Both are important
Campaign Precinct Organizing
• Short term: June through November of election years
• Organized by campaign staff• Focused on winning a particular election• Centered around a candidate
Campaign Organizing Strengths1. Professionally staffed2. Controlled message3. Access to campaign resources (media, volunteers, etc)
Neighborhood Precinct Organizing
• Long term: Not limited by election calendar• Focused on long range goals• Organized by local volunteers
Neighborhood Organizing Strengths1. Familiarity2. Continuity3. Access to community resources
A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
Campaigns• Bring an influx of moneyand people• Get new people involvedlocally Neighborhood Precinct
Organizations• Create a permanentvolunteer pool• Build institutionalknowledge about an area
Thishelps…
Whichbenefits…
Get Started
• Know the players• Know the rules• Know the numbers• Set your goals
Know the Players
• Existing precinct leaders• Local party officials• Local elected officials• Active local campaigns• Community leaders
Do the research
• Election dates• Important deadlines• Precinct maps and boundaries• Polling locations• Party rules and by-laws
Know the Numbers
• Voter registration• Voter turnout• Democratic
performance• Other demographic
info• Individual voter history
The Voter File
• Voter File vs. Voter Roll• Usually available
through the county or state party
• Contains voter contact info and voting history
• More effective if updated frequently
Setting Your Goals
• Important first step– Focuses and motivates volunteers– Helps develop strategies, tactics and timelines– Helps gain institutional party support
• Potential goals– Increase Democratic voter registration X%– Increase Democratic Performance X%– Get X% of district voters to vote early– Build a community of party activists
Setting Your Goals
Goal: Raise the Democratic Performance of my district from 20% to 33%
Current Goal
Registered Voters 1000 1050
Registered Democrats
300 350
Total precinct turnout
500 600
Total D Turnout 100 200
Democratic performance
20% 33%
Good Advice
The only way I know howto organize people is totalk to one person, thentalk to another person,then talk to anotherperson…
--César Chávez
Making a ListFirst: Relational - Family, Friends, Neighbors
• Start close to home — literally• Friends, co-workers, neighbors• Utilize social networks– The best recruiters are current volunteers
Primary Motivation:Personal ties to the one asking
Making a List:Second: The Voter File
• Contact info & voting history of your precinct• Which strangers on your block vote in every
election?• Which ones vote in Democratic Primaries?• Bulk of your list
Primary Motivation:Sense of civic or partisan duty
Making a List:Third: Public Displays of Affiliation
• Look for signs, stickers, statements• Displays political passions publicly• Caution: It’s easier to wear a button than to
act on it
Primary MotivationPassion for an issue or candidate
Let’s Get Together
• Community is about face time– See each other– See the context– See the plan
• Invite your list over– Lit drop invitations to your list– Call to follow up– Informal, intimate, neighborly setting to
gather
Delegate!
• Invest your team members into the plan
• Ask each person for an individual commitment
• People can take on multiple roles
• Everyone belongs to a block team
Common Precinct Roles• Block Captain• Data Director• Research Director• Early Vote Coordinator• Poll Captain• Social Chair
Always Be Recruiting
Build volunteer recruitment into all your precinct activities
– Canvassing– Socials– Conduct new recruitment drives every 6 months
Keep Them Coming Back
• Your team is valuable — Let them know!• Always provide the context for any action• Specific tasks and clear goals• Keep it social, keep it fun
Remember what motivated them tocome the first time.
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