The 6 Secrets to Winning Any Local Election – and Navigating Elected Office Once You Win!: A Step-By-Step Guide to Campaigning and Serving in Public Office by Hon. Kenneth "Ken" Reid

Author:Hon. Kenneth "Ken" Reid [Reid, Hon. Kenneth "Ken"]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, Security (National & International)
ISBN: 9781646281152
Google: a2DBDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Page Publishing Inc
Published: 2019-12-03T06:10:56+00:00

As for automated (robo calls), I would only do these the day before the election and on election day with an urgent “low turnout call”—e.g., “This is an urgent reminder to vote for Ken Reid for Town Council because the turnout is low, and we really need your help to elect Ken November 8!”

Sign Waves and GOTV Rallies

It’s cute to have the candidate, perhaps joined by kids and families, at a well-traveled corner waving your signs. I have done this alone and in concert with volunteers, mainly the “applauder” types.

It is usually good to do this the weekend before the election and election eve, preferably in the evening rush hour. Just be careful not to distract or offend drivers. Just wave the candidates signs at the cars, preferably as they stop for a traffic light.

I would advise not doing this on well-traveled speedy highways because nobody is really looking at you and you could be waving signs at people who cannot vote for you (as most interstates or express highways run through and between different communities).

As for pre-election rallies, these are best left to the local or state party, and if they do such a rally (often the Saturday or Sunday before the election), it will usually feature up-ballot candidates. However, it would not be advisable to hold a rally for just yourself unless you can be assured of a good gathering. I think the time and logistics needed to ensure a good turnout and thus a good impression to the media and voters would be better spent on GOTV.

But if the local party is doing the leg work, be sure you are on the program, and if they are allowing candidates to speak, make sure you get that opportunity or at least to be introduced to the crowd so you can wave and smile. Bring your signs, volunteers, and stickers; and sign up forms to work the crowd to get folks to help you!

Election Eve and Day

If you are aligned with a political party, there should be a precinct captain or district or ward leader who is in charge of organizing the polls for that precinct and/or the entire town or city.

He or she should be responsible for recruiting and scheduling poll workers for their precinct or the entire town/city’s precincts and ensuring all party endorsed candidates have signs posted at each precinct. They should be in charge of ensuring each precinct has sample ballots, literature for candidates, instructions for poll workers, a table and chair perhaps, and getting any food and drink to volunteers who are working the day.

However, local political parties are run by volunteers, and as such, some precinct captain or district chairs (city chairs, town chairs) just are not good at getting people to work the polls and train them. Hence, it can fall to the candidate to pick up the slack.

During my 2011 race for county supervisor, the volunteer ranks in the Loudoun County Republican committee were spread very thin. There were eight races on the ballot, including State Senate and House of Delegates.

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