Door-todoor campaining

Grassroots door-knocking can be the deciding factor in any election, from blue collar to white collar voters. The smaller the race the greater the impact grassroots will have. Smaller races are where fewer voters participate, and tend to have fewer resources and receive less media attention. This means that voters in such races usually don’t have a lot of information, or are misinformed, about the race.

So, direct personal contact from political candidates can often determine the outcome of the race at the voting polls.A strong political canvass team in certain areas can help a political candidate overcome name recognition disadvantages.

Plus, a strong early grassroots effort can help prevent political candidates from mudslinging, as voters are less likely to believe negative information about a candidate with whom they’ve had a positive personal interaction. Some candidates believe grassroots campaigning is, and always will be, door-knocking.

Door-knocking is where the political candidates and campaign staff actually walk up and knock on the doors of voters, to provide opportunities for one-on-one contact with the candidates. But it takes a lot of hard work to do door-knocking correctly. Knocking on doors requires some sweat, but hard work is the reason going door-to-door has a higher probability for winning. By reaching people at home and in their community with a direct appeal for engagement, you are telling them they matter, and this issue is worth their time and their attention.

Essentially, elected officials who knock on doors are saying, ”I want to hear your concerns, I want to know about future changes you wish to see. Let’s have a conversation.” Voter’s this is your time to meet the

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‘A Political View’ By Sherry Holliman SHERRY HOLLIMAN (cont.)

in today’s time is being verbally attacked, like wild animals attack their prey. Being a minority canvassing in certain geographical areas can be unsafe and emotionally challenging. door-knocking in an at- large district is unrealistic which is expecting a visit from each party to visit every home in the city vs door-knocking in a ward district which would be a more realistic approach seeing that there are a certain number of homes assigned to each elected official; thus, the door-knocking is less time consuming and less of a challenge.

Also, dealing with the reactions of the direct contact of constituent could be considered interfering with the candidates message and recipients’ subjective feelings that are at odds with your intentions, which can be discouraging and dangerous especially if the person is tired, has had an argument with a family member, preoccupied with other duties, or is very particular about their personal time. They may feel disrupted, disrespected, or trespassed upon when their door is knocked upon.

Canvassing may or may not generate votes and can be particularly effective when aimed at frequent voters who otherwise might skip a low-turnout election. It is most effective when canvassers provide polling place information or invite people to make a verbal commitment to vote.

Canvassing encourages people to at least talk about the issues with their potential elected officials. Doorto- door deserves respect because canvassing means hard work and facing lots of rejection, causing the candidates and voters to second-guess its worthiness. Showing up on someone’s doorstep unannounced, meeting them where they are, and having a personal conversation about important issues, helps voters focus on the outcome of ending results.

Meeting voters face to face is a personal and proactive method to address specific questions or concerns about their immediate causes in a way no television ad or social media post can.

Do you think door-to-door canvassing is effective?

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Critttenden County who has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.