POLSCI 242 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Get Out The Vote, Nonpartisanism
8 May 2018
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POLISCI 11.18 Lecture Notes
Essentials GOTV (Get out the vote)
Target population
o Some populations are easier to identify (just because someone registered as a Democrat, it
doesn’t mean that they stay as a Democrat
o Determines the method
Cost effectiveness
o Varies from race to race
Personal appeals
o Canvassing
o Personal story – allows candidates or canvassers to connect with voters in a personal way
▪ Volunteers have a personal connection to the campaign
o Mayor may be going door-to-door, talking with voters (more important with local
elections)
Door-to-door
Gist of the benefit – FACE TO FACE CONTACT
Practical considerations
o Safety for the volunteers
o Time (When do you go? Are they home?)
o Message
o High personnel cost
▪ Paid?
▪ Volunteer?
o In theory, supervisors are usually on-site, but not always implemented
This works!
o 1 out of 6 contacts will get out and vote
o Indirect benefits – spillover benefits
▪ Family members also vote
▪ Establish a personal connection
▪ Test out messages and see what works and doesn’t work
▪ Potential recruitment
▪ Registration forms
Cost effectiveness
o Canvassing is the most cost effective
o What is your goal?
▪ Is it just getting people out to vote?
• We can accomplish this goal with other methods
▪ Is it to persuade voters?
• Door-to-door is very effective in accomplishing this
o Saliency of the election
▪ (igh costs of money and personnel may not be worth if it’s a very salient election
such as the general election
• You may be reaching out to people who have already been paying attention
to the race and is already going to vote anyways
▪ Another story for a mayoral election, in which people who are interested in politics
may not turn out to vote
• People who need a little nudge to get out to vote
find more resources at oneclass.com
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