Download - Precinct Organizing- Getting Started
Precinct Organizing:Getting Started
September 11th, 2007Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com,
and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
2 Questions? Email [email protected]
Tonight’s Trainers
Arshad HasanDFA Training Director
Night School Host
Matt BlizekDFA Deputy Training Director
Night School Host
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Goals for this Session1. Define “precinct organizing”
2. Explain the benefits of precinct organizing
3. Learn how to begin organizing inyour neighborhood
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What is a “Precinct”• Also known as ‘Electoral
Districts’, ‘Towns’ or ‘Wards’
• All voters have the sameballot and elected officials
• Have a set number of voters
• Have contiguous boundaries
What is a “Precinct”
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Precinct
Smallest administrative electoral unit
Nation State District County
Campaigning and Party Building• Two types of precinct
organizing– Campaign precinct organizing– Neighborhood precinct organizing or
party building
• Different goals & strategies
• Both are important
6 Questions? Email [email protected]
7 Questions? Email [email protected]
Campaign Precinct Organizing• Short term: July through November of election years• Organized by campaign staff• Focused on winning a particular election• Centered around a candidate
Campaign Organizing Strengths
1. Professionally staffed
2. Controlled message
3. Access to campaign resources (media, volunteers, etc)
8 Questions? Email [email protected]
Neighborhood Precinct Organizing• Long term: Not limited by election calendar• Focused on long range goals• Organized by local volunteers
Neighborhood Organizing Strengths
1. Familiarity
2. Continuity
3. Access to community resources
A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
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Neighborhood PrecinctOrganizations
• Create a permanentvolunteer pool
• Build institutionalknowledge about an area
Campaigns• Bring an influx of money
and people• Get new people involved
locally
Thishelps…
Whichbenefits…
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Tonight’s Focus: NeighborhoodPrecinct Organizing
• Build a local community ofDemocratic activists
• Increase Democraticperformance
• Help progressivecandidates win primaries
• Build and influence localand state parties
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Listener Submitted Questions
Let’s Get Started
• Know the players
• Know the rules
• Know the numbers
• Set your goals
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13 Questions? Email [email protected]
Know the Players• Existing precinct leaders
• Local party officials
• Local elected officials
• Active local campaigns
• Community leaders
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Know the Rules• Election dates
• Important deadlines
• Precinct maps and boundaries
• Polling locations
• Party rules and by-laws
15 Questions? Email [email protected]
Know the Numbers• Voter registration
• Voter turnout
• Democratic performance
• Other demographic info
• Individual voter history
16 Questions? Email [email protected]
The Voter File• Voter File vs. Voter Roll
• Usually available through thecounty or state party
• Contains voter contact info andvoting history
• More effective if updatedfrequently
Don’t have access to a voter file?Create one yourself!
17 Questions? Email [email protected]
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
18 Questions? Email [email protected]
Goal: Raise the Democratic Performance of mydistrict from 20% to 33%
Current GoalRegistered Voters: 1000 1050
Registered Democrats: 300 350
Total precinct turnout: 500 600
Total Democratic turnout: 100 200
Democratic performance: 20% 33%
19 Questions? Email [email protected]
Listener Submitted Questions
Homework1) Research your local precinct:
- Who are they Players?- What are the Rules?- What are the Numbers?
2) Set a goal for your precinct in the nextelection
3) Email us and let us know:[email protected]
20 Questions? Email [email protected]
21 Questions? Email [email protected]
Our 4 Part SeriesRecruiting Your Precinct TeamTuesday, September 18thwww.dfalink.com/precinctrecruiting
Making an ImpactTuesday, September 26th
www.dfalink.com/makinganimpact
Building Networks Across PrecinctsTuesday, October 4thwww.dfalink.com/buildingnetworks
Listen to tonight’s call orprevious sessions at:
www.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool
Thank you for joining us!
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