We asked many of our regular canvassers for their top tips when it comes to knocking doors, the most effective form of voter outreach. These folks certainly know what they’re talking about: They helped us knock 20,000 doors during the 2018 election cycle!
For more tips, go here. And please join us for our Dec. 8 super canvass at various locations across the state. Early canvassing is even more effective than traditional get-out-the-vote (GOTV) canvassing among the sporadic, left-leaning voters we need to turn out to win in 2020, so the time is now.
Democracy in North Carolina needs you!
“It can't be overstated how effective it is to stay WAY BACK from the door!” – Helen Poston
“Listen to what the other person is telling you and respond to them on a personal level.” – Marshall Botvinick
“Smile and be friendly.” – Dana Carvalho
“I would say just to not get down when people don’t answer the door. When people do answer, you have to be enthusiastic and excited to talk to them.” – Jake Schwartz
“Listen. Know your audience. If a person is not interested enough in politics to be a solid midterm voter, it's likely they won't be interested in hearing the details of the process to appointing state board of election seats. For some people, the best message is: ‘Since you're a Democrat, the state isn't currently represented by people who make laws based on what you believe. There are people who are running who you'd probably like better. They're running in very tight races in your district, and yours could be the vote that helps them win. If we don't vote, they'll lose.’ … Lastly, if their baby is crying, their dog is frantically trying to escape, or their dinner is burning, hand them the literature, remind them to please vote, wish them luck, and leave them alone!” – Heidi Colton
“Don't be afraid. Just smile and dive in. You don't have to be perfect.” – Laura Ballance
“Study your map before you begin going door to door. We were not so good at that and frequently did a lot of back-tracking. We're getting better at spending a few minutes at the beginning to get organized.” – Jo Ann Amey
“My top canvassing tip is to keep a nice balance between making a personal connection and talking about the important issues. You shouldn’t just stand there and say exactly what’s on the script without being kind and personal, but you also have to make sure you communicate the important messages of FLIP NC.” – Matt Schwartz
“Ring the doorbell and stand back to give them room to step out and feel comfortable engaging with you.” – Ben Dawson
“Don't expect every conversation to be the same. Even though you have a script and a half dozen questions or points you're supposed to cover, every encounter takes a different turn. Just go with it and try to keep it positive. It's just the contact and reminder to vote that are most important.” – Herb Amey
“Relax, be yourself, and have fun.” – Katy McDougall-Collins
”Make sure to really listen and hear what the person who answers the door has to say.” – Marnie Ross
“Tune in carefully to the person you’re talking to, so you can tailor your focus to what they care about and where they’re coming from. For example, the other weekend I spoke with a woman who was very clear that she is going to vote. Then she mentioned talking to her daughter, who’s in college in Durham, about voting this year for the first time. I focused the conversation on encouraging her to tell her daughter to vote in Holly Springs because her vote there will be so important.” – Lisa Reiter
“I make it clear right away that I'm a volunteer and not asking for money, just a few minutes of time and ‘your view of things, particularly issues of concern at the state level.’ Something like that seems to ease people up pretty quickly, especially the ‘not asking for money’ part.” – Mark Hellman
“I've found that asking people the name of their dogs is a great way to open up the conversation.” – Kumi Smith
“Launch right in. Immediately explain who you are and what you’re doing in the neighborhood and make it clear that you aren’t asking for a ton of time. People start to get antsy when they think you’re asking for money or you’re about to initiate a 30-minute conversation that they will have trouble getting out of.” – Andrea Cash
“Assume people will be glad to hear what you have to say and appreciate what you’re doing. Imagine that you are preaching to the choir – but to a choir that needs to be motivated to get up and sing!” – Susan Blount
“Be friendly and assertive. Let them talk. Layer in questions from your script as you see fit. If they seem quiet and reserved, ask them probing questions – it's surprising to see how they may open up to you!” – Anjali Patel
“I’ll repeat what our coaches told us: We’re there to listen. Rephrasing what people tell us encourages them to talk more and taking notes by hand sends the signal that we value what they say. As the election approaches, it’s important to answer questions about the candidates.” – Claudia Koonz
“You really have to be yourself. Figure out the approach that works best for you. I get right to the point and let them know that we're working to end the Republican supermajority in the State house [Editor’s note: We interviewed Dan prior to the 2018 election, when we broke the supermajority!], and I ask them if they're with us on that. Once that's been established, it's easy to move on, either to talking about issues or moving on to the next house!” – Dan Stipe
“Don't be afraid that you’ll annoy people. It's surprising how willing most people are to talk and share a bit about their views. Just make eye contact right when they open the door . … I always thank them in advance for voting, as well.” – Ann Humphreys
“Remember to sync your data if you are using the Mini-VAN app! Bonus tip: Always remember to listen to the person you are making contact with and adjust your tone and message accordingly.” – Francis Ferrell
“Connecting with another person in an authentic and very simple way is an incredibly gratifying and powerful experience. Can you change someone’s mind in one exchange? Can you convince someone to vote in one encounter? It’s possible, but highly unlikely. But what you can do is leave behind a positive feeling in another person and experience that yourself. For my two cents: This is how each one of us can do our part to change the world.” – Isabel Geffner
“Do whatever it takes to connect to people. Sometimes speaking from a script feels, well, scripted, so I try to feather in the main questions we want to ask while making it feel like a natural conversation. I've definitely walked away without getting through the entire script, but I think that's OK if it was a positive interaction and if I feel like they are more likely to vote because of our efforts.” – Andrew Ross
“Be kind and be willing to listen to what folks have to say. It is only by engaging others and making them feel heard that true change will occur.” – Laura Ritchie