Direct Voter Contact and GOTV

How to get your potential voters to the polls - conventional and innovative strategies for successful GOTV campaigns.

Overview

Beginning June 4th, join Young People For and the Young Elected Officials Network for a six-week Public Sector course titled "Direct Voter Contact and GOTV". Participants can expect an exciting course examining different techniques for voter contact and GOTV. In the course we will explore the different tools used in voter outreach, base building, voter identification and persuasion and identifying and targetting GOTV audiences. This course is designed for people who are interested in sharpening their skills on how to recruit and talk to voters to yield the best possible results on election day.

Over the six weeks, we will consider topics such as:

• How do I identify new voters and build my base?
• How do I plan a canvassing operation?
• What are different strategies for voter contact?
• How do I identify and target GOTV audiences?
• Case studies examining different successful campaigns.

Guest speakers, experts in their field, will be interviewed weekly and their interviews will be pod cast on the course site for participants to download. Guest speakers will also be available on the course message boards to answer participant questions.

By the end of the six-week course, participants will have acquired a new understanding of how to identify, interact and persuade voters during a campaign, how to plan and launch a GOTV effort and how to maximize the use of their time, money and volunteers.

Time Commitment

The course will require at least 2-4 hours per week, depending on the length of the readings and the amount of discussion throughout the week. As with any educational opportunity, the more time participants can devote to the course, the more reward they will get out of it.

We recognize that some weeks are busier for participants than others. For this reason, we require that each participant commit to posting to the discussion board at least twice per week, but strongly encourage them to post more. The course will be driven by online discussion, and participants should expect to engage in the Progressive Academy Online website at least 3 days a week.

Course Platform

The Progressive Academy Online is a web-based learning discussion that uses the Moodle platform for curriculum posts and online discussion forums. Participants must have regular access to a computer.

Curriculum

Week 1: June 4- June 8th

DVC and GOTV: Definitions, Purpose and Value

Abstract: Week one will provide an introduction to the signifigance and importance of Direct Voter Contact (DVC) and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts.

Week 2: June 11th - June 15th

Targeting Voters and Base Building

Abstract: Week two will consider voter files and lists for targeting, demogrpahic and geographic targeting and determining your base for new voters.

Week 3: June 18th - June 22nd

Voter Identification and Persuasion Part I: Canvassing and Phoning

Abstract: Week three will introduce participants to the strategies behing planning your canvass operation, interacting and identifying voters and discuss the role of volunteers on campaigns.

Week 4: June 25th - June 29th

Voter Identification and Persuasion Part II: Direct Mail and Robocalls

Abstract: Week four will cover how to plan direct mail strategies, creating direct mail and robocalls, and the role of ads, signs and announcements in reaching out to potential voters.

Week 5: July 2nd - July 6th

GOTV

Abstract: Week five will cover how to identify and target GOTV audiences, how to plan for pre-election GOTV and how to execute your GOTV plan on election day.

Week 6: July 9th - July 13th

Overview and Reflections with Case Studies

Abstract: Week six will consider successful Democrat and Republican campaigns case studies and the different strategies they used to get voters to the polls.

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