Pondering on Precinct Canvassing Experiences
By Harriet Bachner and Jim Orwig
Looking forward to the 2024 election and canvassing for candidates, we look back on our initial canvassing experiences as new precinct chairs. Even though the candidates we promoted did not get elected to the school board, they did well in our precinct. This might be a result of canvassing, the work done by the previous precinct chairs, or the nature of the people living in our precinct. Having not previously canvassed together, we anticipated the challenge of knocking on doors in our precinct.
For over 17 years Jim and I have almost daily strolled through the Countryside neighborhood, meeting cats and barking dogs, and greeting fellow walkers and bicyclists. Thus, these brief encounters over the years may have contributed to folks being more likely to answer their doors and to speak with us. One woman even recognized Jim from his hat that she admired from a distance. Strolling through our neighborhood is relaxing, but ringing doorbells can be unnerving, not knowing what to expect when/if someone opens the door. Most of the time though only barking dogs alerted the inhabitants about “intruders.” I am surprised that people, especially women, opened their doors to us. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to interact with a variety of friendly folks. Most of them politely listened, welcomed, and accepted the packets of information about the candidates. Some even inquired about the reasons that Crawford County Democrats were supporting and courting votes for 3 of the candidates for school board. We reflected that often in past local elections we did not know much about the candidates vying for positions such as school board members. Thus we understood their need for information about the candidates and appreciated their interest in learning about the candidates.
Since I am often reluctant to initiate conversations, especially with individuals who I do not know, canvassing can be a daunting challenge for me. Whereas, Jim freely engages anyone in conversation, even at times on seemingly inane topics. So, it seems that our different interaction styles complimented each other well as we approached people in ways that matched their interaction styles. Jim’s easy friendly style put people at ease and receptive to hearing the information that I shared about the candidates and the reason to vote for them. Extending ourselves by listening to our neighbors’ concerns, personal stories, and curiously asking open questions requires social and emotional energy, especially for introverted individuals. For gregarious folks though canvassing can be invigorating. Despite several enjoyable conversation and being accustomed to walking our neighborhood, canvassing for 2 or 3 hours was intense and exhausting for both of us.
We had a variety of personal encounters with individuals who shared their personal struggles. These included parenting challenges with adolescent children, difficulty sleeping, concerns regarding retirement, conflicts with family members and colleagues, and fears regarding small town politics and the current national political strife. There were folks who expressed distain for anything related to elections and the political system, for example distrust of the electoral college system of electing a president. One person persisted on this complaint as a reason not to vote despite our attempt to explain that this was a local school board election and not part of a national election. We encountered a couple of individuals who emphatically stated that they do not vote even though they were on our list as registered voters. Their reasons had nothing to do with local elections. They abruptly cut us off even though they did initially open their door to us. Another person insisted that he was not going to sign anything and after we assured him that we had nothing that required a signature, he then was interested in hearing about the candidates.
Generally, almost all who answered their door were friendly and receptive, some even invited us into their home and engaged in conversation even about issues unrelated to elections. Some of these interactions involved humorous anecdotes and personal stories. We did not experience open hostility, although a few individuals were suspicious, reluctant, or flatly did not want to speak to Democrats. One man shut the door on us as we introduced ourselves. Regardless, we remained polite and thanked them for answering their door and briefly speaking with us.
Through our various encounters we learned ways that we can improve upon the canvassing process and incorporate some different approaches. We need to begin by introducing ourselves as the precinct chairs for CCDems and include folks who are undeclared, Libertarians, and moderate Republicans. This can be an information gathering and introduction phase. We can then open discussion about their concerns and issues that are important to them that they would like their elected officials to act upon. We can share these issues with local candidates and gain their input about constituents’ concerns and their platforms regarding these issues. This is also an opportunity to seek information about the national candidates’ stance on these issues. To accomplish these goals, canvassing as information gathering and later for supporting candidates needs to begin early, even in the early spring. We discovered that people were more likely to respond to us at their door in warm weather and spend some time in friendly conversation outside on their front porch or as they were relaxing or working in their yards.
It is necessary to consider our goals in canvassing, those being: to seek out people’s concerns; to discuss the issues that are most relevant to individuals and families; to inform folks about how the incumbent candidates have voted on issues and the candidates’ platforms; and to provide information (how to register, where to vote, absentee voting) to help people be informed voters. We would like to engage those individuals who were adamant about not wanting to vote or be part of the electorate. How did they reach that stance and what would compel them to reconsider their non-voting stance? Are there some obstacles that prevent them from voting? How can we assist them in managing those obstacles?
We had several lively conversations, and as we were leaving, we promised to return when we canvased for candidates in the 2024 election. There are serious divisions among political adversaries that have damaged or tainted even casual interactions among neighbors, friends, and family members. Even so, this canvassing experience has given us hope in the power of personal contact in restoring decency, respect, and the willingness to negotiate in working through differences and conflict. Therefore, we anticipate canvassing for the 2024 election to be lively, challenging, and filled with opportunities to find some common ground.
The relationships that we build are critical to shifting perspectives and increasing receptivity to information about candidates. The personal connections that we develop over time with repeated opportunities for discourse are most meaningful in establishing trust in the election process. Our first canvassing experience together as precinct chairs showed us the necessity of building relationships, providing a safe and friendly avenue for conversation, providing information, and promoting voter participation.
