It’s now just 80 days to go until polling day, but there’s no need to panic. Your leaflet delivery schedule should continue to be in full swing, but the nearer you get to polling day, the more important it is to do your voter ID.
The Doorstep Challenge
We deliver leaflets till our shoes are worn out, now-a-days we also deliver letters, send emails and update our blogs and twitter feeds, but there is NO SUBSTITUTE for knocking on doors and talking to people.
These are our first local elections as a Party of Government in Westminster, and it’s going to be a challenge. This is why you and your team to be knocking on doors now.
Why is this so important? 1 – It’s very easy for politics and politicians to become remote. But as campaigning local Liberal Democrats a fundamental core of our belief is that we stand up for local people. To do this we need to talk to people, we need to find out what issues concern people as the basis for our local campaigning. People are genuinely pleased to see local politicians talking to them outside of election time.
2 – Not everybody hates us! It’s true – have you knocked on any doors recently? Despite what those increasingly nasty people in the Labour Party would have us believe, most people understand the issues that the country is facing, and most people understand the commitment that Liberal Democrats have to their local area. In some areas activists have been frightened to get on the doorstep – don’t be afraid!
3 – Getting out “our vote” and squeezing the third party is crucial in winning local elections. But we can’t do this unless we know who our supporters are, and who 3rd party supporters are. Use your door knocking to update your voter ID – compare this to previous data and you can see how you’re doing in different areas.
4. Getting real data from real people makes it easier to plan your strategy for the campaign if you have good data on voting intentions now. It helps you understand which wards are safe, which ones need more work, and if any particular target literature is neededWhy Now?
This election is going to be a challenge. Starting your campaign in April is not going to work this time. By starting now you give yourself a better chance of being re-elected. Many people have already started, or started last year, or do this continuously – they have an even better chance of winning in May. How to get going1 – Sort out some calling leaflets. There are some really good simple A4 leaflets on the ALDC website which will work in any area – all you need to do is add your picture(s) and contact details. It might be a good idea to give the door-knockers some “action forms” to take a note of any casework – including email addresses!)2 – Sort out when you’re going. Choose two or three times a week when you’re going out as a “team” (it’s much more satisfactory as a team). Tuesdays at 6, Saturdays at 10, Sundays at 4 – whatever works for you and your team. 3 – Sort out who you’re calling on. Some people “filter” the canvass sheets so we only call on more important households – if you put on the marked register from the General Election you could “filter out” people who didn’t vote in the General (if they didn’t vote then they’re unlikely to vote in the locals!), if you’re fighting Labour it might be an idea to filter out HARD Labour households (and people down as Anti or Not Voting or BNP) – no point wasting your time is there? 4 – If it’s raining have some telephone canvass sheets as a backup. Invite people round to your house, give them a cup of tea and some biscuits and do a couple of hours phoning round the kitchen table as a group (most people have minutes on their mobiles, or get some old mobiles out of an old drawer with a pay as you go SIM). One Draft Script for early in the campaign (i.e. now!!)
Hello, is that Mrs Smith?
I’m sorry to trouble you. I’m Jenny Jones, one of your local councillors (OR I’m here with Jenny Jones, one of your local Councillors).
We’re just calling on people in the local area to see if there are any issues we need to be aware of, or anything we should be doing on your behalf?
(Discussion, but before you go)
Do you normally vote in local elections?
Normally Lab…Tory….. Lib Dem? *
Is it there a party you would not vote for?
Thank you for your time!
* Remember in EARS not to record a “normally Lib Dem” as a definite or probable for 2011 unless they have specified that they will be supporting us this year. Back record them in the appropriate year’s election records if it was not done at the time.
ALDC has written a series of articles on voter ID that explains all different aspects of voter ID. The full series is available to be viewed by ALDC members on our website. The full series is:Voter ID: why?Voter ID: who, where and when?Voter ID: how?Voter ID: afterwardsVoter ID: canvass categoriesVoter ID: dos and don’tsVoter ID: the telephone
You can also download a set of templates for canvass leaflets:
A4 canvass leaflet:Black & White PPPBlack & White PDF2 colour PPP2 colour PDFFull colour PPPFull colour PDF
from our website.