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.