Navigating get out the vote (GOTV) campaigns has undergone a digital transformation as advocates and voters adapt to new forms of interaction. This underscores the need for a focused and robust online engagement strategy to effectively communicate with potential voters.
Below are six best practices to get the maximum engagement for your GOTV campaign communications.
1. Make it Personal
Voters and your supporters respond best to other people, whether in their community, workplace, or friends and neighbors. Getting groups of like-minded people involved can help you spread the word and boost your GOTV campaign. Make sure you explain why this election is important, tying it back to the issues your organization and supporters care about.
2. Make it Easy
You want to make it as easy as possible for your advocates to participate in the political process. So make sure to have a central place where people can get all the information you need. VoterVoice’s action center allows you to help your supporters register to vote, find who their candidates are, what their local requirements and deadlines are for absentee or early voting, and what is at stake for your main issues.
3. Designate a Day
Set a date for a big early voting push or for people to register — or both. Make it an event for your organization where people engage in the political process together and feel part of your community.
4. Leverage Volunteers
If you have a few advocates who are high on your advocacy ladder of engagement, ask them if they would like to assist with your get out the vote efforts. This could be as simple as sending a group email for your supporters asking if they want to help others understand the absentee ballot process, for example. Then you can train some of your volunteers to help answer the most common questions.
5. Remind People About Important Dates and Events
While you can direct all your supporters to your action center so they can quickly find all the important election information by their zip code, you can also take a proactive approach and help them remember key dates in their specific location. You can segment your email list by state, for example, and remind your advocates about registration deadlines, absentee ballot processes, local candidate information, and upcoming debates and town hall meetings.
6. Host Virtual Events
Continue building that sense of community by hosting virtual or hybrid events to make participation more accessible for everyone. Consider hosting a debate or town hall watch party and discussion, or a webinar about how your issues play out in the upcoming election.
