Naples SWFL 9.12 Project Precinct Organizing

1. Naples SWFL 9.12 ProjectPrecinct Organizing 19 June 2010

2. Welcome • Captain Kirk and the US Constitution • 4th Verse of the Star Spangled Banner • Voter Database Update • Excel Spreadsheets for each Precinct and Maps • Working on Walking Maps as a trial initiative • Voter Guides • Abigail Adams working on local one • Florida State Referendums

3. Topics Create a Plan How to Create a Precinct Organization Precinct Team Precinct Meetings Door to Door Canvassing (Precinct Block Walk) Registering New Voters Candidate and Issue Information GOTV

4. CREATE A PLAN • Develop a plan outline • Flesh out the details with your precinct volunteers

5. The Plan • Dates fixed on state law • Primary Election: (Aug 2010) • General Election: (Nov 2010) • Community activity dates • Candidate Forums • 23 June - Politics in the Park • 12 July – GG Candidate Forum • 25 July – FBC School Board Forum • etc

6. The Plan • SWFL 9-12 Project activity dates • Training • Voter Guides Available

7. The Plan • Dates of your plan's activities • Team Recruitment • Organize Precinct • Canvas Precinct • Voter registration • Voter Guide Distribution • GOTV

8. Recruit and Train Volunteers Host an introductory event

9. Recruit Volunteers • Reach out to personal social networks

10. HOW TO CREATE A PRECINCT ORGANIZATION Gather contact information Get to know each other

11. HOW TO CREATE A PRECINCT ORGANIZATION Follow-up Build an Excel database of prospects

12. HOW TO CREATE A PRECINCT ORGANIZATION • Schedule monthly or bi-weekly events

13. HOW TO CREATE A PRECINCT ORGANIZATION Identify Precinct Leadership Volunteers Keep the momentum growing

14. HOW TO CREATE A PRECINCT ORGANIZATION • Start a friend-to-friend campaign • Keep all prospective volunteers informed

15. Precinct TeamPRECINCT COORDINATOR ROLE Recruit Organize precinct Identify targeted voters Set goals and monitor results Inform voters Distribute information GOTV Conduct gatherings Liaison to other Precincts

16. PRECINCT TEAM –SUPPORT ROLES Excel Database Manager Resource Coordinator Voter Registration / Compliance Expert Training Coordinator

17. Precinct MeetingsPRECINCT CORE TEAM MEETING Identify responsibilities Identify targeted voters Develop Precinct Action Plan Plan Precinct Social Meetings

18. PRECINCT VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT Be non-partisan Like-minded organizations Call/ e-mail personal contacts Community leaders Robo-call likely voters from Voter Records Use flyers Block walk of precinct Reach out to local schools

19. LOGISTICS -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING Locations Food Name tags Sign in sheet Provide handouts Allow time for socializing

20. AGENDA -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Facilitate a sense of common goals /community and motivate. • Provide an overview • Precinct organizing process • Precinct organizing action timeline and key election related dates • Explain where people fit into the process • How training and materials will be provided

21. AGENDA -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Describe each precinct team task & ask for volunteers • Voter canvassing to identify likely voters and gather contact information • Door-to-door persuasion to inform, educate, and recruit voters using flyers • Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) Team –importance of last 72 hours prior to the election • Early Voting and Mail-In-Ballots • Election Day callers, drivers, poll checkers, and baby sitters • Blockwalkers with Voter Guides • “Social” event and fundraising ideas • Data entry to keep the Voter Records updated

22. AGENDA -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Ask people for contributions to help defray precinct organizing expenses. • Pass a basket or have one at the door with a sign.

23. TIPS -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Stay on agenda • Designate a time keeper • If an unexpected popular issue is raised, take a vote to determine if want to take 5-10 minutes to discuss issue immediately or later. Could also opt to assign volunteers or a committee.

24. TIPS -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Overcome anxiety and/or burnout • Indicate that taking action with like-minded neighbors is an antidote • Share local, state-wide, or national successes • Elections are often won or lost by small margins, each vote is important

25. TIPS -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Provide periodic precinct updates. • May even start a precinct web site. • Assure that on follow-up e-mails will use blind-copy (bcc) feature to hide e-mail addresses

26. TIPS -PRECINCT “SOCIAL” GATHERING • Assure to obtain suggestions, feedback, and critiques from volunteers • What was done well • What could be improved

27. “PRIME THE PUMP” • Organization Leaders • Go door-to-door • Train others • Etc. • Recruit Few Volunteers before Meeting • Old sales approach • Recruited volunteers will cause others to step-up

28. LEVERAGE ALL TOUCHPOINTS Call Stop by house Send a note e-mail blasts Precinct web site Discussion or blog online Candidate Forums Neighborhood Association Meetings Churches

29. Organize Precinct • Map the Precinct • STEP 1 - Secure a precinct map from Supervisor of Elections office.

30. Organize Precinct • STEP 2 - If possible, divide your map into neighborhoods and then blocks with no more than 20 residences in each block.

31. Organize Precinct • STEP 3 - Obtain a Registered voter spreadsheet from your County Supervisor of Elections.

32. Organize Precinct • STEP 4 - Begin the search for block and area workers who will be responsible

33. Organize Precinct • Update Voter Records with Block walk results

34. Canvas Precinct "Do's and Don'ts of Canvassing” Utilize Block Walking Script Map of the area to be canvassed Divide by Neighborhood Captains List of registered voters Set deadlines for the canvass to be completed Utilize Canvass forms Obtain key voter data Establish rapport with voters Recruit Volunteers Enter data into database

35. BLOCKWALK-MATERIALS NEEDED Volunteer name badge Street walking lists with identified, targeted voters from Voter Records (Update with voter contact information and involvement interest, i.e. volunteer, join, or just keep informed) Precinct map Clipboard, pen, and pencils Voter feedback list to capture comments

36. BLOCKWALK-MATERIALS NEEDED • Door hangers or flyers to inform/educate, provide your contact information, and inform of precinct meeting / social events • 2010 Election important dates & location of polling location • Voter Registration Forms • Mail-in/ Absentee Ballot Applications • Pre-addressed, stamped envelopes with County Clerk‘s address • Voter Guides when closer to election

37. OPTIMIUM BLOCKWALKING TIMES Weekdays 4 p.m. -7 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Sundays 1 p.m. -7 p.m.

38. VOTER DISCUSSION TIPS • Make a personal connection • Look for common concerns • Use information from the Voter Record and observations as you approach the door ( political signs, children‘s toys, etc.) as aids to focus your message • Use your own personal story of why you chose to get involved

39. VOTER DISCUSSION TIPS • Listen to voter‘s concerns • Good communication requires being a good listener

40. VOTER DISCUSSION TIPS • Reassure them that you are a neighbor and a volunteer • Volunteers and neighbors are most effective in engaging likely voters

41. VOTER DISCUSSION TIPS • Validate their opinion • It‘s a two-way communication at the door, not a hard sell • If you argue and indicate that they are wrong, you‘ve lost

42. VOTER DISCUSSION TIPS • Explain how Constitutional principles are relevant and important in regard to today‘s issues • Use simple language • Be sincere, truthful, and genuine • Draw favorable distinctions between your position and the opposition to Constitutional principles

43. VOTER DISCUSSION TIPS • End with a call to action, such as please volunteer, join, vote, or read the brochure

44. SAMPLE RESPONSES • “I am not aware of anyissues and don‘t really care much about the political process”‖ • You may not be aware of the issues and their significance, because the mainstream media does not properly report the issues. • The politicians, in violation of Constitutional principles, are assuming full control of everything that affects you and are thus taking away your liberties and money (in higher taxes).

45. SAMPLE RESPONSES • “I always vote the Party line”‖ • I am sure they‘ve appreciated your loyalty, but even within the existing Parties there is now dissention based on where the Parties have taken this country. • In fact, many Party loyalists are leaving the Parties. In recent polling ―Tea Party‖ candidates are now preferred over either Party.

46. SAMPLE RESPONSES • “They are all corrupt” • Certainly one may get that impression because the media focuses on corrupt politicians and of course power does tend to corrupt. • Because of this concern many good citizens are choosing to run for office for the first time ever in an effort to do something about this corrupting influence in current politics.

47. SAMPLE RESPONSES • “My vote doesn‘t matter anyway” • Democrats in 2008 won key states by gaining only 10 more Democratic votes in each precinct. • It is this realization, that a few votes can make an important difference, of why have gotten involved and volunteered to go door-to-door.

48. SAMPLE RESPONSES • You get the idea. The message is “you are not alone and together we CAN make a difference.

49. BLOCKWALKING –NO ONE HOME Door hangers / post it notes

50. DO’S OF A PRECINCT BLOCKWALK Eye contact Use Script and listen Focus on issues Focus on the plan Be pleasant and friendly