This guide will walk you through each step of the process of canvassing at a high traffic public place or door to door in a neighborhood.

What is a Canvass?

Canvassing refers to going door-to-door in a neighborhood or any specific location to have conversations about important issues with community members. It is an essential component of organizing. We use canvassing to talk to people about issues that matter to them, spread our message and recruit. The results of conversations are recorded so we can make sure we are organizing in the most efficient way possible and focusing on what’s most important to folks.

Why Do We Canvass?

Canvassing in local neighborhoods (both door-to-door and in high traffic areas) is the most effective way to talk with community members about the issues that matter to them. Our success comes down to our ability to share our message through face-to-face discussions with people and get them to join the movement. We need to let our neighbors know about our efforts and invite them to join us!

Where Do We Canvass?

Usually the goal of any canvass is to talk to as many people as possible. Therefore, we want to target areas that are dense with people and allow us to easily talk to them all.

We recommend canvassing both public locations and going door-to-door in neighborhoods. Public locations should be areas where people pass by regularly. Good canvass spots include grocery stores, sporting events, public transport stops, fast food restaurants, parks, college campuses, etc.

It’s important to have several back up places in case the location is unsuccessful or we are forced to move. Make sure everyone knows not to be discouraged if they have to leave a location – flexibility is key.

Door-to-door canvassing should focus on dense working class neighborhoods that are easily walkable. You want to choose neighborhoods where the houses are relatively close together and you can hit as many doors as possible. The same is true for high traffic public locations. We need to be in areas with working class people.

Also, it’s also probably best not to canvass before 10am or after 9pm.

Planning a Canvassing Drive

Step 1: Select a Staging Location

Determine where your “staging location” will be. That is where people will gather before and after the canvass. Your staging location can be a private home, park, school, or any other location that will accommodate your group and allow for a brief training.

Step 2: Recruit and Build a Team

Get as many people from your group to participate in your canvass as you can. It’s often helpful to distribute the tasks involved in running a canvass. You may want to consider finding people to fill the following roles:

• Canvass Coordinator – coordinates splitting up neighborhoods, identifying high-traffic locations, and makes maps, as well as helping to prepare, distribute and re-collect canvass materials.
• Recruitment Coordinator – responsible for getting people to join the canvass and making sure they actually show up.
• Resources Coordinator – Helps to find and secure the staging ground; a place to meet before and after the canvass. This person may need to consider parking needs, restrooms, etc. This person can also help to get donations of food and water to sustain canvassers.
• Trainer – this should be an experienced canvasser who can talk through how canvassing works, as well as explain why the neighborhood and the people you’re contacting are important. This person also should be able to set and communicate a clear goal that will motivate and focus folks.

Step 3: Prepare all of your Materials

Create a list of canvass locations, keeping in mind that you want to canvass in walkable working class neighborhoods and high-traffic public locations. Here’s a list of items you need to have ready:

• Map for Door to Door – Your map gives at least a rough idea of the area to canvass and will be provided by the canvass organizer. When going door to door, it’s best to only go to the houses on one side of one street then the other. It’s also good to pair up with someone else and each take a side of the street, but only after each person is comfortable enough. And make sure everyone knows where they are meeting up at the end.
• Map for High Traffic Public Places – Be sure to photocopy enough maps for everyone to have one and delegate out an appropriate amount of streets for each person. For high traffic public places, make sure everyone knows their location. Maps should show everyone where everyone else is located.
• Script – The script will be provided by your canvass organizer and is meant to act as a guide for your conversations. It will feature a number of questions or talking points. There’s a sample script at the bottom.
• Tally Sheet – It is critical that when you talk to each voter, you make notes about their answers to the questions in the script. Accurate data is essential to our organizing efforts.
• Campaign Literature – Be sure to give each person one of these. If the person is not at home, leave the literature with someone else or on his/her doorstep. Do not leave any literature in the mailbox as this is illegal.
• Pens and a Clipboard – Be prepared by making sure you have supplies to make canvassing easier, have enough pens and clipboards for your entire team. Having a clipboard to write on will make recording the results of your conversations much easier. This should also be used so folks can write their contact information on it for following up.
• Comfortable Walking Shoes and Water – Tell everyone to be prepared for spending a few hours on their feet and to bring water for while they’re out and anything else they’ll need.
• Contact Information – Exchange cell phone numbers with everyone you are working with, in case you get delayed or lost.

Step 4: Make Reminder Calls

Be sure to make reminder calls to everyone who has signed up online or has told you verbally they plan on attending the canvass. Turn out will increase dramatically if you ask them for a firm commitment.

Sample Agenda For Your Canvass

This agenda is meant as a suggestion to guide you through your canvass. Feel free to adjust the agenda to best suit your location and participants.

Welcome and Introduction (10 min)

If possible, have each person introduce themselves by name. Have two people share their personal stories, addressing what is at stake for them personally. Stories should give a human side to our organizing work and remind us of why we are doing this.

Also be sure to explain why you’re canvassing today and what the group’s motivation and ultimate goals are.

Set expectations (3 min)

Share your goal for the number of doors you are trying to knock and/or the number of people you are trying to reach. Put this number into perspective by reminding everyone that they are part of a huge effort across the country engaging in similar efforts.

Review the script and role play with a partner (5 min)

Read the script out loud and ask if anyone has questions. Practice what you are going to say when you knock on the door or approach someone in a high traffic public place. Let people know that it’s alright to share their story in order to personalize the message, but be sure to stay on topic.

Explain logistics and partner up (5 min)

Address how people should organize in groups, give any necessary transportation details and pass out materials. Then have everyone pick a partner, especially if you are going door to door. Be safe and make sure no one is going out alone.

Hit the streets! (3 hours)

Coordinators should check on the team during the canvass!

Debrief (15 min)

At the end of the canvass have everyone tally up the number of doors they knocked or the number of people they talked with and the number that were successful. Gather the information and make sure the data will be entered. Present how your group fared overall and ask those who did well what made the difference. Ask those who struggled what the challenges were that we need to prepare better for next time.

Don’t forget in your debrief to let people know about the next event.

Celebrate!

If possible, organize a potluck or an optional social gathering afterward. Talk about your success together!

Things to Remember while Talking to People

Smile!

This is the most basic rule. If you look and sound like you are enjoying yourself, people will be more interested in engaging in conversation with you.

Don’t pretend to be an expert. But be confident you’re on the correct side.

You should never be afraid to admit you do not know something. If you aren’t sure, say just that. Just make sure you convey that you’re on the correct side and that we can win.

Follow the script, but speak from the heart.

You will be provided with a rough script. You should use it as a guide. Being yourself will always be the most effective way of engaging with people.

Record Information

Reporting information from your canvassing is important. Understanding what people are thinking about important issues helps us ensure we are being the most effective organization possible.

Following up is crucial

It’s imperative that we follow up with people we talked with who want to get more involved.

Stay safe!

Don’t go inside houses, even in a group. Don’t knock on a door you feel uneasy about. Don’t offer to shake people’s hands at the door – it can often put people off – but shake their hands if they offer.

Sample canvassing script

First, start off by explaining why you’re out canvassing.

For example: “I’m out here because fascists are trying to take over the country, force people into concentration camps and making it worse for everyone struggling to simply get by. So we’re going around to talk to folks about getting together with their neighbors, to defend each other against the violence of fascism and poverty.”

Next, offer up a specific ask that’s framed in fairly general terms. This gives the person the opportunity to agree to a general statement and ask for more details, or not.

For example: “Do you want to be left on your own to deal with whatever life throws at you? Or are you willing to explore what it means to come together with your neighbors?”

If they say No, they want to be left alone, yet are still standing there engaged, this creates an opportunity to then explain why you think this is important, pressing them a bit.

For example: “The fascists want to create chaos, including chaos in the economy, so they can seize absolute power and force most of us farther into poverty. That way we will all be forced to serve them and do whatever they say, or risk being put in camps. Is that what you want? Because I believe there’s a better way, that we have the power to come together to fight and build a better world for each other. I believe we can make a revolution against fascism.”

You can also bring your own personal experience, family history, etc. into it.

If they say Yes, they are interested and want to learn more about what you mean by coming together with your neighbors, you can explain a bit about our goals.

For example: “I’m glad to hear that. We’re going to be hosting an assembly soon at (include details). This is a place for neighbors to talk about what they’re dealing with, what support they could use, so we can figure out ways for everyone to share what they can and help each other, defending each other economically.”

Don’t forget that it isn’t just about defending each other economically. This is meant to support the primary goal, which is that we have to defend each other physically and build a powerful movement for revolution.

For example: “We’re also coming together to talk about what it means defend each other physically. Cops, ICE, violence is everywhere and we’re seeing a growing fascist militia movement too. So we need to come together for community defense.”

And we won’t get anywhere if we aren’t building a movement for blockades, occupations, strikes, etc. So we need to be sure to mention this too. We want people to know what they’re getting themselves into.

For example: “We can’t count on the government or ‘law and order’ to save us. We have to save ourselves. That means building a powerful movement capable of blockades, occupations, and strikes in order to make a revolution against fascism.”

“We’re socialists, which means we believe in a revolution where we take over the corporations and government. We will all own and run it democratically, including you. That’s the other purpose behind the assemblies we’re building. Democracy has never been in Washington DC. It’s only what we fight for in our communities and workplaces.”

In conclusion, come back to the reason you’re there in the first place and get them to commit to attending the upcoming assembly, joining the revolutionary organization, etc.

For example: “Will you join us at the next assembly and can we get some contact information from you, so we can remind you and stay connected?”