Introduction
Political success depends in the last analysis upon effective political action in the smallest governmental unit. Political success depends on getting more votes than the opposition; effective political action means organized work, capably directed to produce those votes in the precinct.
Wikipedia defines a precinct as follows: “A precinct is generally the lowest-level governmentally related division in United States, and in context is also know in some places as an election district and others as wards”. In this chapter the word “Precinct” will be used for any reference to the lowest governmental unit and, depending on local usage, can be interchangeable with election districts or wards.
People’s votes count only when they are cast in the precinct polling place. The job of getting voters to the polls is the vital work of a political party’s precinct organization, directed by a precinct leader.
This chapter explains: how precinct work is organized; what a precinct leader is and how they perform their job; and how precinct work pays off in winning elections.
The precinct is an excellent place to get started in politics. It is as near as your neighborhood.
Precinct workers and volunteers of all kinds were plentiful in both parties not many years ago. The ranks were composed of party faithful who were the officeholders from city hall, the county courthouse, and state capitals, as well as Federal jobholders.
Most of these people are no longer available for party service due to more stringent merit-based systems for public employment, broadened regulations of the Federal civil service, and other statutory restrictions.
Since a void has been created by their removal from the political picture, a real need for workers exists. There is a place for the beginner, and if they start in their home precinct they are following a well-tested formula—starting with what they know best.
If you are unhappy with the current state of governance in your local community, your county, your state, and yes, even your nation, the most effective, long term and lasting changes begin at the local level. Organization and patience can result in positive changes.
As you will observe as you proceed through this material it is a minority of a minority that is organized and active in politics that sets the agenda and, in effect, chooses the candidates we vote for. A very small increase in responsible, and yes dare I say it, moderate people in the political process can change the agenda to one that is more reasonable, less partisan, and results oriented. A few active people can put elected officials in office who know they got their office due to their activity in getting out the vote for them and not because a single issue PAC gave them lots of money.
The Precinct
Precincts come in different shapes, sizes, and even with different names. In New York and some other eastern states, the area is called an election district. In Philadelphia, it is called a division. In Wisconsin it is called a ward.
Counties, cities, towns and wards are divided into precincts for election purposes. The boundaries of the precinct are set by law. Sometimes several polling places are located in the same precinct; more generally one polling place serves all the voters in one precinct—and is located in the precinct or convenient to it.
Precinct boundaries are generally fixed by county boards of election, according to standards set by the state election law. Depending upon the states, these boards are called county election commissions, county courts, boards of election, or other names.
A typical precinct embraces an average of 1100 voters. But precincts vary considerably in size, some having up to several thousand voters, and some, 150 or fewer.
Precincts in rural areas may contain far fewer voters than those in urban areas. Generally, however, wide variations in the size of precincts within one state result from population shifts and failures to redistrict. Failures to redistrict, in turn, may result from inertia, or for political reasons.
As an example, consider a town with 15 precincts. The 15 precinct leaders comprise the town committee. The party leader can control the committee if they can depend upon the votes of eight precinct leaders.
But if redistricting set up 22 precincts, they would need 12 people on their side to maintain a majority. To retain control of the committee, the town leader would have to find seven new precinct leaders, four of whom they could depend on to vote his way. It may be easier for the party leader to convince the board of elections that redistricting is unnecessary than to find the new precinct leaders.
A valuable insight into the political leadership in an area may sometimes be gained by studying precinct structure. If the population of the area is on the rise, how long has it been since the area was redistricted on the basis of size recommended by the state election law?
The party in current control of the governmental entity, whether city, county or state, may, using computer analysis of voting records and demographics, attempt to use precinct, or congressional district, boundaries to protect incumbents. In the process of setting electoral district boundaries, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries to create partisan advantaged districts. The resulting voting district is known as a gerrymander. In addition to its use achieving desired electoral results for a particular party, gerrymandering may be used to help or hinder a particular demographic, such as a political, ethnic, racial, linguistic, and religious or class group. One example from the listing of the top ten most gerrymandered congressional from Zombie is: Illinois 4th Congressional District.
The Precinct Leader
The Precinct Leader, who may also be called precinct captain, chairman, or committeeman, depending on local usage, is a critically important official in the party organization, since he or she is the party’s direct contact with the voters.
The Democratic national committee has recognized the importance of the precinct leader in these words:
“The Democratic Party depends on you to be a two-way street between the party organization and the people. You—and only you —can carry the wishes of your neighbors firsthand to the party organization and in turn take the program of the Party back to your neighbors. You have an important job. You are the key to successful Democratic action.” And the republican national leadership has lauded their role this way:
“You are the most important link in the republican organization. Success or failure of the Party at the polls depends in large measure upon you and the thousands of precinct committeemen across the nation. You are the contact between the Party and the voter. Your work contributes most to the success of our Party.”
In nearly all states, the precinct leader is a recognized party official; usually his or her position is described and their powers and duties set forth by state law. In some states, however, where the political organization tends to be informal, the people who perform the duties of precinct leaders may have neither a formal title nor be legally recognized a political party official. Regardless, the duties of a precinct leader consist of doing all things possible-365 days of the year—to turn out the biggest vote obtainable for his party on Election Day.
The precinct leader’s qualifications are: initiative, persistence, leadership, tact, and party loyalty.
Selecting the Precinct Leader
The precinct leader gets their office in- different ways in different states.
In the majority of states, the voters of each party—Democratic and Republican— choose their respective precinct leaders in a primary election.
Often, the nominee for precinct leader is unopposed in the primary. Sometimes, however, there are real contests. Beginners in the political arena frequently gain their first personal political victory, or suffer their first political defeat, in a campaign for precinct leadership.
A serious aspirant for the office of precinct leader will inform their party’s leader in the ward, city, county (or comparable unit) of their desire to be a candidate. Among other things, the party official will want to know why the potential candidate is interested in getting into politics, and will want to assess their probable vote-getting ability.
If the party leader approves the candidate, it will be a major help in their campaign.
Even without this approval, however, if the aspirant has campaigned well, and knows their neighbors who are members of their party, they have a good chance of being elected precinct leader.
Generally, few party members vote in primary contests for precinct leader, often with 10% or less of the registered voters actually voting. If the candidate has worked hard to get out his vote, he can usually win.
Even the losers end up with a nucleus of supporters for another effort—and another election is always coming. A loss at this point is no signal to retire from politics. There’s always a large turnover among precinct leaders. In addition, party officials sometimes award a vacant leadership in an adjoining precinct to a likely comer who has demonstrated a certain amount of strength at the polls.
Although the total voter turnout has increased in the last 42 years the actual percentage of eligible citizens voting has remained relatively constant in Presidential elections at around 54% from 1972 to 2012. Up to the 1960’s the percentage was in the 60% range. The voter turnout in off year elections has decreased from the high of 46% of eligible voters in 1970 to around 39% in 2010.
In some areas, precinct leaders are appointed by the county, city or town party committee. Some get their jobs at county conventions of their parties. In a few areas, precinct caucuses are held to name them.
In other sections of the country the selection of the precinct leaders—if there are such formal positions—may be made through informal agreements between the county or local party leaders. Where there are factions within a party, each faction may have its corps of precinct leaders.
The Precinct Leader’s Place in the Party
The fact that our political system is decentralized, and that it varies from state to state and locality to locality, guarantees that the leader at the precinct level is someone to be reckoned with.
The real power of the leader of the ward, township or county committee comes from the precinct leader because he or she is the foundation of the party organization. Getting out the vote for your candidate is fundamentally all that counts. Personal contacts and effective organization at the precinct level will always be more effective than advertising dollars, regardless of how much is spent, and will always have a longer term impact as compared to internet and social media issue or individual candidate efforts.
People represent votes, and the precinct leader is the only person in the party organization who should be continually in direct contact with the people. Consequently, the precinct leader’s judgment is valued highly by party leaders in selecting the nominees who will get the party’s endorsement. If candidates are nominated who do not appeal to the precinct leaders, they may “drag their feet” and hurt the party’s chances of winning.
The precinct leader may be consulted on the qualifications of people in their precinct who are being considered for government jobs or for the limited patronage.
Many times the precinct leader is the force behind street paving, new sewers, lighting systems, and other such neighborhood improvements. According to a former U.S. Senator more public works have resulted directly from the efforts of precinct leaders than from all the efforts of reform movements, taxpayer’s leagues and newspaper crusades.
Importance of Good Precinct Work
Political professionals agree on at least one point: “elections are won—or lost— in the precincts.”
Good precinct work is aimed at getting every vote on the party’s side into the ballot box. There are many examples of elections that turned on one vote per precinct. In the famous disputed presidential election of 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes was elected by one vote in the Electoral College, 185 to 184. That vote was supported by a onevote margin in a special 15-man commission. The member of the commission who cast the decisive vote for Hayes was a congressman from Indiana who was elected to congress by a margin of one vote. And that vote was cast by a sick man who insisted that he be transported to the polls in order to cast his ballot!
Less than one vote per precinct in the State of California in 1916 lost the Presidency for Charles Evans Hughes in the upset that put Woodrow Wilson in the White house. Thirty- two years later, California was lost to Thomas E. Dewey by approximately one vote per precinct. In the famous, or infamous depending on your point of view, presidential election of 2000, George W. Bush won the election, in spite of losing in the popular vote with Al Gore obtaining 50,999,897 (48.4%) votes against Bush’s 50,456,002 (47.9%) votes.
Bush was elected President of the United States after the contested election results in Florida were decided by a split decision of the United States Supreme court. Bush was certified the winner in Florida by a total of 537 votes out of a total vote tally of all presidential candidates in Florida of 5,862,594 or a margin of 0.00916%. If you think that your vote never counts, consider this, there are 67 counties in Florida so Bush became president by just a little over 8 votes per county. Even more important to why you vote always counts is the fact that there are 6222 precincts in Florida (as per the Florida Board of elections for April 1, 2013) which means that less than one (1) vote per every 10 precincts determined who was going to be the president of the United States.
The 2000 Presidential election also brings home the point that in U.S. politics third party candidates often give a close election to the “other” side. Ralph Nader drew 97,488 votes for president in Florida, more than all the other third party candidates combined. Assuming that almost all Nader’s votes, if he had not been in the election, would have gone for the Democratic candidate, the winner would have been Al Gore and not George Bush.
Even in districts where one party has an overwhelming majority, every vote counts. Maintaining morale of party members can be difficult in a precinct where success is only a glimmering hope because a disproportionate number of voters are registered in the opposition party. The intelligent leader recognizes, however, that producing a high percentage of their party’s potential vote by well-organized precinct work is a real accomplishment. More important, elections are decided by the total votes cast in all precincts, and a few minority votes cast in one precinct may be the margin of victory when they are added to majorities gained in other precincts.
Good precinct work is necessary to produce the party’s enrolled voters at the polls despite the fact that newspapers, radio and television devote considerable space and time to a campaign, and the voters are swamped with campaign literature.
Unfortunately, many people who are members of political parties, or profess to be, behave as if they don’t understand why, where and when to vote. Surprisingly enough, some people apparently stay away from the polls simply because they have not been invited to vote.
The Lapeer County (Michigan) Democratic Party has this to say about organization at the precinct level and the role of the Precinct leader or delegate: “The Precinct is where elections are won and lost. The role of the precinct delegate is one of the most important yet least understood of an elected office. It is the active precinct delegate who wins elections for the Democratic Party. Precinct delegates are elected directly by the voters of each precinct to serve as a bridge between voters and the Democratic Party in your neighborhood and you represent your neighborhood at
Democratic Party meetings”
Tools of the Precinct Leader
The Precinct Leader needs certain tools for his work, and must know how to use them.
The following are some of the basic tools required for a smooth-working precinct operation.
A Copy of the Election Laws. The precinct leader should know the ground rules of elections in his state. They are set down in the state election laws. Until he has acquired at least an acquaintance with these laws he will be operating largely in the dark.
Normally these state laws are codified and are available in booklet form. Copies can usually be obtained from the secretary of state at the state capitol, the city or county party headquarters, or the boards of election. In Wisconsin the source for this information is the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.
Each state has its own laws. The smart and effective precinct leader knows the law.
Voter Data Base: Before the introduction of computers one of the most valuable assets of a precinct leader was an indexed card file of the voters in their precinct. Card files were set up so that the “shoebox game” could be played on Election Day. (This game is described later in this chapter). The duplicate sets of cards contained the names, addresses, telephone numbers of each voter in their party, and other personal information helpful in tailoring the precinct worker’s “approach” to each voter.
Card files were used because they were adaptable for the work of locating voters through door-to-door canvassing; could be brought up to date easily when corrections or revisions were necessary; could be pulled in groups and given to individual precinct workers assigned to get voters to the polls; and could be used in checking who has voted on election day.
The use of computers and data management software has replaced the card files of yesteryear but the concept remains the same. The precinct leader and his assistants need to have ready access to the names, addresses, contact information and party affiliation of registered voters in their precinct. This system needs to be flexible enough to allow for the inclusion of personal information, new arrivals and people who have moved away. Almost any data management program will work and there are data management systems sold that are tailored specifically for political organization.
SAMPLE DATA USED BY PRECINCT LEADER
Johnson, Julia B. (Mrs. William A.)
home Tel.: 608.555.1111
cell phone: 608.555-0000
other contact info:
e-mail address:Juliabj@telcom.com
social network: Juliabu@facebook
3524 Maple Ave.,Blanktown, Wisconsin 55555
Other parties in home:
Johnson, William A (husband)
Jane Johnson (daughter) age 18 – UW student registered: Yes Party Affiliation: Democrat
As a practical note, wise precinct leaders reference information on individuals in the same family, or those who live together, so that one call by a precinct worker will do the job. Two or three calls made to the same house because the residents’ names are on separate lists are annoying to the people called and a waste of time for the caller.
Many people prefer to be contacted by e-mail or through one of the many forms of social media. Any listing should include not only the standard information but e-mail and social media contact information. Consideration should be given to the fact that many people have preferences as to how that are to be contacted and these preferences need to be noted. Also, just because they have an e-mail address does not mean that ever open their e-mail account up.
Registration Lists: These are lists of all the registered voters in a precinct. In some states the lists are published with party affiliation noted; in some places they are so detailed that they even list the age of each registrant. Whenever they are available, they include at least the full name and address of each registrant, and are the official lists of those eligible voters who have registered, and therefore can vote. Those who have not registered are not on the list and cannot vote.
Normally, registration lists may be obtained from the county boards of elections. In some states, they are not readily available and have to be requested or purchased from county officials. Or they may have to be copied from official board of election lists, if it is not the custom to print them. Usually both Democratic and Republican county central committees obtain registration lists for their precinct leaders.
It does not take many committed people in local – non-presidential elections to make a difference. In the four (4) districts/precincts in the spring 2013 election in the Town of Delton there were a total of 1402 registered voters and only 259 actually voted or 18.4%.
And this was based on the registered voters. Of the eligible voters the percentage would probably be less than 15%.
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Telephone (both landline and cell). The telephone is the ready, right arm of the precinct committeeman. No precinct headquarters is complete without several.Street-by-Street Telephone Directory. Telephone directories that list people by street addresses provide one of the best possible records of potential voters. Hardcopy street by street, or Criss-Cross, directories are still available. Hill Donnelly Directories is a source for most larger metropolitan areas. The internet has reduced the need and expense of the resource. A “free” White Pages People Search is a great way to learn who lives in a neighborhood based on the land line connections. Unfortunately an increasing number of people no longer maintain a landline, choosing to rely totally on their cell phones.
If needed, copies of such directories may sometimes be obtained from the local telephone company, your local library or purchased from private publishing firms. Newspapers often use them, and the local newspaper editor usually knows where they can be obtained.
Precinct Map. The precinct leader is expected to be an authority on the geographic area they are representing. A precinct map will give them a working knowledge of the streets and the dwelling units in their voting district.
City or county headquarters of political parties in some areas furnish precinct maps. In other communities, they are available from the Board of Elections.
If such a map is not readily available, the precinct leader can make one quickly and easily by obtaining a local street map, marking off his precinct boundaries on it and indicating houses, apartments, and so on, with a blue pencil or a pen. Or, they may go to the town, city or county government offices and get a map from the surveyor or engineer. At worst, they should be able to get a photo copy of the official surveyor’s map.
Many areas of the country have stable populations and the usual sources for finding eligible voters will work well for the precinct leader. Other areas may be in a state of flux with new people arriving and others leaving on a relatively constant basis. Many people come to a new area and retain their cell phone numbers from their prior location and do not go to the trouble and expense of obtaining a local landline. It is possible in high turnover area that your best listing may be two moves out of date and which case you will have to be more resourceful in getting information. Local “new comers” organizations may be willing to provide listings of new people to the area. Property management firms may be willing to provide updated listings of people coming and going in their rental units.
Listings of people signing up for utility services may be available from the local public utility. Unfortunately, in the end it may come down to a door to door visit.
Organizing a Precinct from “Scratch”
Generally, a new precinct leader will take over some files and some regular volunteer help from their predecessor. If so, they are that much better off. It is useful, however, to show all the steps in organizing a precinct “from scratch” so the reader can have the full picture.
The new precinct leader walking into an unorganized voting district should face up to the realization that they can’t “lone wolf” the job that they are going to need help. Their first objective is to get a group of people to assist them in reaching the voters in their district.
Precinct leaders may give helpers the name of “block captains,” “section captains,” or simply “precinct aides.” For the sake of having a standard term, they will be referred to in this pamphlet as block captains.
Ideally, the precinct leader will try to enlist as regular block captains enough volunteers to cover their entire precinct, each one being, assigned the responsibility for keeping in touch with up to 15 to 20 dwelling units.
Block Captain Prospects
In recruiting their block captains, the precinct leader will find their best prospects in three groups of people, retired people, stay at home parents and young wannabe politicians. Even the retired people and stay at home parents have busy lives and they will have to be given good reasons to carve time out of their prior commitments. Their commitment to work for a party, if it is going to last, has to be based on more than a single issue or a single candidate. They must be impressed with the importance of the political process and the impact of their long term commitment to the process.
Larger precincts may have a more elaborate organization, but most precincts are probably not as well organized, if at all, as this chart would indicate. In many states each precinct at one time had 2 leaders for each party.
Stay at home parents are good prospects since they do have some time in their otherwise busy days to make phone calls, work on voter lists and hold small informal meetings during the campaign season. In the past the phrase used for this group would be “housewives” but in the world we live in today it is often the father that is the stay at home parent. Regardless of the gender, the stay at home parent may be looking for something to do and they almost always have a network of neighbors and friends and “play group” contacts.
Retired people are also good prospects for block captain. They are used to busy lives and welcome an opportunity to have something to do.
Young republicans and Young Democrats are eager to make a name for themselves in the party. If there are any in the precinct, they are good prospects, too.
One other excellent source of block captains is those people in the neighborhood who are regular volunteers for various charity drives. They already know their neighbors well and have experience in making house-to-house calls—and are obviously civic minded. They may need to be gently reminded that involvement in politics is their most important civic obligation.
Recruiting Block Captains
With this preliminary knowledge of what kind of people are their best prospects, the precinct leader starts their drive to recruit block captains.
Taking the registration list of the voters of their party, they check off all the names of people they already know and then calls on them in person, or by telephone, to enlist their active aid.
In calling, a generalized appeal is not enough. The leader asks each of their acquaintances if he or she will accept a specific assignment to be responsible for voters in 15 to 20 houses or apartment units in his or her immediate neighborhood.
Many of them will decline, but a few will agree to work.
A few will not be enough, however. To fill in the gaps, the persistent precinct leader goes from door to door in their unorganized neighborhoods, introducing ‘themselves simply as the party’s official leader for the area on a neighborly mission to get acquainted with fellow residents.
After a while, their calls will turn up members of the party who appear to be good prospects for the precinct organization. It is their job then to enlist the prospect as an active worker, willing to take on an assignment as a block captain.
Sometimes the precinct leader organizing a new precinct “from scratch” can get a “special projects team” from a Young republican or Young Democratic club to come into his or her precinct for a one, two, or three-day canvassing project in their unorganized neighborhoods. Usually they will arrive in a group at the leaders house about 7:00 P.m. to get their assignment. Then they go out in pairs to call on as many houses or apartments as they can by 9:30 P.m. At this time they return to the precinct leader’s home, review and make notes on their canvassing lists and turn them over to the leader for entry into the data management system. Generally light refreshments are available and the meeting is closed with a social hour.
A group like this should be able to canvass between 10 and 20 dwelling units per pair in an evening. They will very probably discover at least two or three likely prospects for block captains per night, unless the neighborhood is heavily populated by voters of the opposition party.
It is the exceptional precinct leader who will have the energy and ability to build an organization of block captains to cover their whole district for one election, let alone keep it going year after year.
There are also leaders who prefer to handle their job alone, either on the theory of “do it yourself if you want it done” or simply because they are not good at delegating and getting people to work for them. Precinct leaders of this type will be doing very well if they manage to keep an up-to-date list of voters of their party and turn most of them out on Election Day.
Clerical Work
The precinct leader needs clerical help in addition to their block captains or “contact” help. Generally they will do much clerical work themselves, enlisting additional aid from their family and, perhaps, from neighborhood teen-agers. Block captains may also help with the clerical chores.
This work consists of setting up and keeping the precinct files up-to-date, letter writing and getting out mailings such as campaign literature and registration reminders.
| Residency Requirements for voting by State Alabama ………………no duration requirement. 10 day registration prior to election Alaska………………….30 days residence and registration Arizona………………..29 day residence and registration Arkansas. …………….no duration requirement. 30 day registration California …………….15 day residence and registration Colorado ……………..30 day residency and 29 day registration Connecticut ………….no duration required. registration 14 days prior by mail , 7 days in person Delawared ……………no duration required. 20 day registration\ D.C………………………no duration required. 30 day registration Florida………………….no duration. 29 days for national and state primary and general Georgia ……………….no duration. 30 days registration Hawaii …………………no duration. 30 day registration Idaho…………………..30 day residency. 25 days with county clerk or same day at polling place Illinois …………………30 day residency. 27 day registration Indiana…………………30 day residency. 29 day registration Iowa ……………………no duration. 10 day registration – slight difference for state and national Kansas ………………..no duration. 15 day registration Kentucky………………28 day residency Louisiana……………..no duration. 30 day registration Maine…………………..no duration Maryland ……………..no duration Massachusetts………no duration. 20 day registration Michigan……………….30 day registration Minnesota …………….20 day duration. Same day registration and voting Mississippi…………….30 day duration. 30 day registration Missouri ……………….no duration. register by fourth Wednesday prior to election Montana……………….30 day duration. 30 day registration Nebraska ……………..no duration. register by third Friday prior to election Nevada ………………..30 day duration. 30 day registration New Hampshire …….no duration. 10 days and same day at polls New Jersey …………..30 day duration. 29 day registration New Mexico…………..no duration. 28 day registration New York ……………..30 day registration No. Carolina …………30 day duration. 25 day registration\ No . Dakota ………….30 day duration. no registration required Ohio ……………………30 day duration. 30 day registration Oklahoma …………….no duration. 25 day registration Oregon…………………no duration. register by close of 21st day prior to election Pennsylvania…………30 day duration. 30 day registration Rhode Island ………..no duration. 30 day registration S. Carolina ,………….no duration. 30 day registration S. Dakota …………….no duration. 15 day registration Tennessee ……………no duration. 30 day registration Texas …………………..no duration. 30 day registration Utah…………………….30 day duration. 15th and 18th day prior election in person 30 days mail Vermont ……………….no duration. registration by second Saturday (noon) prior to election Virginia ………………..no duration. 29 day registration Washington………….30 day duration. 30 day registration by mail, 15 days in person W. Virginia……………no duration. 21 day registration Wisconsin ……………10 day duration. same day registration at polls Wyoming …………….no duration. 30 day registration & same day at the polls. note: please check with your Secretary of State for any changes |
Registration
“Not the least of the committeeman (precinct leader) duties is to see that the voter is qualified to vote in compliance with the local registration laws. In fact, this is their most important responsibility. Obviously, a voter who isn’t registered can’t vote. And since potential voters are notoriously negligent about this, many votes will be lost unless the citizen is jogged and reminded by someone, which means the committeeman, that they have not yet registered, and is informed of the time and place where he can qualify himself to vote.” —How to Go into Politics, Scott
Having recruited whatever block captains and clerical workers they can, the precinct leader then prepares their precinct organization for their first job: getting the party voters to register. in states where same-day registration is allowed the precinct leaders role is now to get the citizen to go to the polls on election day to both register and to vote.
The precinct leader will want to make sure that the individual has the necessary documentation in their possession that local law requires for same day registration.
Precinct leaders and block captains are seldom surprised to learn how many members of their own party are either not registered to vote or have allowed their registration to lapse due to inactivity.
Timing and Planning the Registration Drive
Both parties have resource material available to assist the leader in planning for and timing of a successful voter registration drive. The league of Women Voters offers a comprehensive guide to successful voter registration drives.
The league suggests:
. set reasonable goals
. identify the target time period
. select sites/venue or house to house visits to reach the maximum number of unregistered or first time voters.
. find potential partners for the drive
. identify your key members
The League makes the following additional recommendations:
. Know the law – voter registration practices and rules vary from state to state
. Work with election officials
. Keep good records
. Publish your results
. Follow up and evaluate and learn from your mistakes.
Many states offer advice and guidance on conducting a registration drive. The Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State, of instance, publishes a short and to the point advisory including the various dates for upcoming elections and the corresponding voter registration deadlines.
Most states have two arrangements for registration. The first can be called central registration. A person may register this way at the board of elections in the county court house during its regular office hours. Central registration can be done over a long period of time, usually several months during the summer.
The second kind of registration is precinct registration. Anywhere from a week or two before election to two months before election, depending on the state, registration places are hired in or near every precinct and the registration books for that precinct are brought to them to provide a more convenient opportunity for people to register. This registration period is generally short; anywhere from one day to a week, at certain stated hours. In states where same day registration is allowed, the registration and the voting will take place at the official Precinct voting site.
The precinct leader will generally times their registration drive to start about a week ahead of precinct registration days and continue through the last precinct registration date and in same day registration states continue up to Election Day.
In the past, some states (mostly southern) required the payment of a fee, or a “poll tax” to qualify to vote in the state elections. This restriction on voting rights and most other voter restrictions were struck down in a series of United States Supreme court decisions in 1964 and 1966.
Experienced politicians will confirm that a “Voter registration Drive” can, with proper planning, be very effective in increasing voter turnout. This is true whether or not the organization running the drive is non-partisan or it is run by a political party to gain voters committed to the platform or candidates of that party. Obviously registration drives sponsored by a political party will concentrate its efforts on those potential voters likely to vote for their candidates.
Be forewarned that are some efforts by some state legislatures to put restrictions on voter registration drives. Florida and Ohio, for instance have attempted legislation that would place limits on voter registration drives, including requiring the licensing of the people doing the registration and by limiting the time the group doing the drive has to turn registration material into the election officials. Always check with your Secretary of State’s office or the State election Board BEFORE starting your registration drive.
Preparation for Registration Drive
There are two steps in preparing for the registration drive.
The first is strictly clerical work. The leader and their helpers make out sortable lists for every voter on the registration list. They then sort these lists by streets and check them against a street-by-street phone book and other available sources. in doing this, they will have no names for a number of addresses and only one listing for other addresses where there is probably more than one eligible voter residing. These gaps represent people who did not register the previous year—either through negligence, apathy or because they are new residents or newly eligible voters.
Listings for each of these addresses can be made up. Where no name is available, the listing can be made up with the address only, the name to be filled in later.
Then the lists are checked against the street map of the precinct to find houses that may not have been listed in the telephone directory (remember many people now use their cell phones exclusively). Lists are prepared for these addresses, also.
When the clerical work has gone as far as it can go, it is time for the second step in preparing the registration drive—holding a meeting of the block captains and other workers to brief them on their jobs and pass out assignments. The precinct leader has to prepare very carefully for this meeting. It has four parts.
First, the precinct leader makes sure that all their block captains and workers know one another, so they introduce them all to each other. Obvious? Of course. But often forgotten. They will also want to impress their people with some of the basic rules to be followed.
For example, the Democratic Precinct handbook cites these fundamentals for beginners and experienced workers alike.
“Making a friendly contact with the voters in your area is the first step in encouraging them to register and vote and in getting them active in the Democratic Party. Remember that their first impression of you is one they will remember, so be as pleasant and friendly as you can.
“Try and pick times to call that will not upset the housewife. (Ed. note: 7-9:30 P.m., weeknights and Saturday afternoon are good times.)
“Often, a person you visit may not want to talk at the moment. Smile, thank them, try to arrange for another more convenient time to call.”
The second thing the leader does at this meeting is to explain to his workers that a duplicate listing has been prepared for almost every dwelling unit and voter in the precinct, but there are still gaps. The first job now is to fill in the gaps. Door-to-door canvassing must be done to pick up information on those homes where the phone is unlisted (or a landline does not exist) and there is no record of anyone having registered. Apartment houses have to be checked carefully,
State Registration Requirements
State registration requirements vary by state but almost all fall into a classification of either permanent or periodic registration. Generally if the voting right is exercised, usually at least every four (4) years it is not necessary to re-register. The best source for current registration information is the website of your state’s Secretary of State.
Many Secretary of State Offices offer advice on what questions to expect and the appropriate answers while conducting a voter registration drive. A good example may be found on the web site of the Indiana Secretary of State.
Much of the final checking can be done by telephone, of course. If the captains can complete their list of apartment dwellers from mail boxes, they can then go home and get the detailed information by telephoning each apartment. Also, in those cases where it is thought that not all residents of a home are recorded on the lists, information about them can be gotten by phone, again assuming that they have a landline.
One very important kind of voter to be located among the unregistered is the first time voter. These are chiefly young people who have just turned 18 or will be 18 before the next election. They are all good prospects, since they will be making a voting decision for the first time. The kindness of the party worker who contacts them and helps them in getting qualified to vote can be a powerful factor in orienting them toward the party that gives them this assistance.
The efficient block captain is especially alert in finding all absentees—people who will be away from home on business, invalids, and those in the armed forces—and then offers to make arrangements to get the necessary registration forms and follow through on getting the absentee ballot to those who need help. Many close elections have been decided by the votes of absentees. In 2012 more than half of the total ballots cast in New Mexico were cast by absentee ballot.
The third thing the precinct leader does is to explain to the block captains that a party’s precinct registration drive is aimed solely at locating the unregistered and persuading them to register. The unregistered will fall into three categories: “Saints” “Saveables” and ”Sinners”.
The “Saints” are in the precinct leader’s party. “Saveables” are so-called independents, or those weak in party loyalty.
They can be swayed by a good leader. “Sinners” are on the “wrong” side.
The primary purpose of either party is to get the “Saints” and the “Saveables” registered. The “Sinners” are left to the opposition to find or if possible discouraged from voting.
The “Saints” probably will be interested in registering. The ”Saveables” may be indifferent or uninterested, but once they are persuaded to register by the representative of one party, they will generally vote for that party’s ticket.
Each captain, accordingly, takes his completed file and locates all the “Sinners” and puts them aside. The remaining “Saints” and “Saveables” constitute the people they are interested in getting registered. Many of them will be registered already if there is some form of “permanent registration” and voters are carried on the books as long as they vote regularly. Where the law provides that each voter must register personally for every election, of course, the captain’s job is bigger: They have to get all their “Saints” and “Saveables” registered each year!
The fourth thing the leader does is to explain to the precinct workers that the primary job is getting the “Saints” and “Saveables” actually to go to the precinct registration place and register or, where same day registration is allowed, to make sure that the “Saints and Saveables” actually go to the polls on Election Day – with the necessary ?documentation.
Having explained the things that have to be done, the precinct leader then passes out to each block captain one set of the lists for their neighborhood. The block captain keeps this set. The leader keeps the master set. Each block captain is also given a list of registration sites and a list of the polling place for each precinct.
At this meeting the precinct leader also explains the basic information on where and when to register, voting qualifications such as age, residence, citizenship, and so on. Each block captain should be given a short written summary of this information.
Some precinct leaders find it is worthwhile at this meeting not only to explain the jobs to be done, but to try to train the workers in how to do them. Practice telephone calls are made on the spot, each worker making one to get the “feel” of it. Some canvassing situations where a block captain will meet people face to face are acted out so that the captains will have some actual practice before making their first real call. One worker acts as a voter, another can act the role of the block captain making the call. The dialogue might go something like this:
Block Captain: “How do you do. I’m Joe Doe. I live over on Sycamore Avenue and I’m working with the (republican/Democratic) precinct committee. We’re interested in seeing that everyone eligible to vote is registered. Are you folks registered?”
Neighbor: “Oh yes. We’re registered.”
Block Captain: “There are two of you aren’t there? James and Mary Smith?” Neighbor: “Well, there’s also my daughter, Jane. She’s just reached 21. She can vote now, can’t she?”
Block Captain: “She certainly can. Does she know where to register?” Neighbor:
“She’ll have to go to the courthouse, won’t she?
Block captain: I can help her to get registered and here is what we need to do. The person acting the role of block captain goes on to explain just how to get Jane registered.
The device of having precinct workers make practice phone calls at the meeting and play-act interview situations is extremely useful. It gives them an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills they need in making the actual calls.
Later, when they are making calls, they will have more confidence.
Good precinct organizations close their meetings with an hour for refreshments and socializing. This is a must for all meetings of any group.
Precinct meetings give people a sense of belonging to a team and a reassurance that others are doing the same kind of work—making the job easier for each person and also giving him a feeling that he has to hold up his end in the group effort.
It is usually not necessary that the precinct leader has to reinvent the wheel since most state and many large city party organizations provide handbooks and other resource material.
Manning the Registration Place
There are two kinds of personnel in the registration place: official registrars and party “watchers” or “checkers.”
The official registrars are people who are temporarily hired by the board of elections or the local government to register voters. Usually, the law specifies that both parties have equal representation in appointing the personnel for each registration place, so the registrars are usually recommended for their job by the precinct leader of each party. Note that only in very exceptional circumstances are third parties given a place in this process.
In addition, the precinct leader may station a representative of their party in the registration place to check off names of people as they register. The checker passes these lists on to the leader and they mark off the name from their master list so that names remaining on the list represent people who have not yet registered.
Usually, the same people who act as registrars and watchers at registration time later are chosen to be poll clerks and party watchers on Election Day, since they are already familiar with the books, the procedures and the voters.
Turning Them Out
Working in a precinct has been compared to harvesting a crop of apples. The apple farmer knows that each apple has to be located, picked by hand, and put into a basket. Many voters show about the same interest in registering and voting that apples show in being picked. They have to be called, talked to and led to the polls, one by one. like apples, they also bruise easily and must be handled with care.
Having briefed the precinct workers and manned the registration place, the leader then gets his or her voters out to be registered. Generally this is a three-step process.
- Reminder mailing. A card or letter is mailed to each “Saint” and each “Savable” reminding them that registration time is near.
- Keep track. Careful track is kept of each voter as he registers so that the leader and block captains know at all times who still not has registered by looking at the card list. Since names are pulled as voters register, the remaining names of the list represent those who have not yet “done their duty.”
- 3.Follow up. The names of those who have not registered are referred to block captains, who make either a personal or telephone call on the delinquent. Sometimes second postal cards or letter reminders are also sent out three days in advance of the registration deadline. If you know that the delinquent potential voter reads their e-mails or responds to social media use that resource if it is available.
An all-out job of telephoning and e-mailing is done on the final registration day, and if the number of unregistered warrants, a special corps of automobile drivers and baby-sitters is called into action to get potential voters to the registration place.
Between Registration and Election Day
Registration lists are considered public information and precinct leaders should be entitled to examine them.
As soon as the registration books are closed, the precinct leader and their block captains compare the registration list with their file and bring both sets of lists with names of their party’s voters up to date. They also scrutinize the opposition party list to uncover possible “phonies” and make preparations for challenging these ineligibles on Election Day.
From the lists, the leader and their block captains check off “doubtful” voters who may need extra persuasion through a friendly visit before Election Day.
These are “neighborly” visits with politics discussed tactfully.
The interim period is a vital time for assembling information. Block captains canvass their assigned dwellings to inquire if any voter will need transportation to the polls on Election Day. Will the lady of the house (or primary care giver) require a babysitter so she (or he) can get out to vote?
Information of this nature can only be obtained through contacting the voter’s residence, either by a personal call, by telephone or if you are sure that that the voter does read and respond, by email or social media.
If transportation, or a sitter, is needed, that information goes down on a listing of “special needs” to be added to the transportation or baby-sitting assignments on Election Day.
During the campaign the precinct leader and their clerical aides get out campaign literature to enthuse the “Saints” and convert the “Saveables,” encourage attendance at the party’s political meetings, and cooperate in carrying out campaign strategy.
In this period the precinct leader makes sure that absentee ballots are received by those who need them. Various time limits are prescribed in state laws covering the receipt of marked ballots from absentees. A complete listing of Absentee Ballot requirements for all 50 states and territories are available online at Bazelon. org. The Alabama and Alaska requirements are:
Alabama – Alabama only allows absentee ballots with a valid excuse. There are time limits to applying for an absentee ballot in Alabama.
Alaska – Alaska allows absentee balloting without the need for an excuse. Alaska also allows in person early voting.
In the week before Election Day (Tuesday), a special mailing is prepared, timed for delivery to both the faithful and doubtful voters on the preceding Friday, Saturday, or Monday. The notice includes: date of election, location of the polling place and hours for voting. If e-mail and social media contact information is available these resources should also be used.
Many precinct leaders include a short letter. Such letters are signed either by the precinct leader or by block captains who know the recipients.
In all mailings and other forms of contact, an efficient precinct leader makes certain the correct prefix of “Mr., Mrs., or Miss” is used. Care should be taken to avoid sending any mail addressed to voters who have died since registration.
Election Day
Advance Planning is the best insurance against Election Day blues.
All the work of organizing a committee of block workers, of inducing people to
register and ringing doorbells and telephones is aimed toward Election Day, and the effort is not complete until the last vote cast in the precinct is counted.
Election officials:
The precinct leader selects well in advance of Election Day, their party’s representatives who will serve inside the polls. Usually, as previously noted, they will be the same people who worked on registration.
Months or weeks before the election, officials to man the polls will be appointed by the county elections board. These officials supervise the voting and are paid a modest amount for their services. Normally both parties are allowed equal representation at each polling place. Again, note that third parties are normally not “invited”.
In most places, official election jobs are open to persons nominated by their political parties. The precinct captain usually is extremely interested in getting their own workers appointed to these jobs—for obvious reasons.
The number of officials judges, clerks, inspectors, etc.—depends upon state election laws, the size of the precinct, and other conditions. Generally, at least four people serve in these official posts at each precinct polling place.
In addition, political parties are customarily allowed to have a limited number of watchers or challengers at each polling place. These party representatives are sometimes volunteers; sometimes paid by the party.
Persons chosen as either election officials or party poll workers should know the special laws applying to Election Day and the polls. In some areas they are required to take a special training course. With increasing use of same day registration the officials and poll workers must be knowledgeable regarding the documentation required for same day registration and must also be schooled in how to make challenges. The local party should have this information and it is available from the State election Board or the Secretary of State’s office.
The judges and clerks check the qualifications of the voters, while the party watchers and challengers are present not only to prevent fraudulent acts, but also to protect the rights of qualified voters of their party.
Because of the vital importance of watchers and challengers, the precinct leader prefers their party to be represented by alert, aggressive individuals who can cope with trying or unusual situations.
Polling place officials also should have the physical stamina needed to withstand the rigors of election hours which often stretch from 6:00 A.m. to well after midnight.
Well-briefed poll officials are on duty at least one-half hour before the polls open to make sure that voting begins on time, that only authorized persons are on the premises, that the ballot boxes are empty—and in voting machine areas, that no votes have been entered on the machine before voting starts.
They know the proper authorities to call if the polls are not opened on schedule, or improperly staffed, or if other infractions occur.
Selecting the right kind of officials frequently means the difference between victory and defeat in elections.
Getting Out the Vote
A good precinct leader will not eliminate themselves from party activity on Election Day by serving as an election official. They appoint others to serve in official capacities. Their job is to direct the getting out of the vote, to see the polls are manned all day long—inside and out—until the last vote is accurately tabulated.
To get out the votes, they’ll need special workers for:
Vote checking.
Telephoning and manning headquarters.
Transportation and sitters.
Vote checkers. Vote checkers are key people in a precinct organization’s campaign to get out the vote. To be effective, they work in teams of two. The number of teams necessary to do the job depends upon the number of voters in a precinct.
Here is how the teams operate: as they go on duty at the polls, they are armed with the alphabetically-arranged file of registered voters, and a typed list of the registrants in alphabetical order. Younger workers may be more comfortable with a laptop spreadsheet.
A member of the team holds the list of registered voters and strikes off the name of each voter as he or she arrives at the poll to vote. The other team member, meanwhile, has set up the “shoe box game,” or some variation of it.
In the shoebox game two shoe boxes are labeled “has voted” and “hasn’t voted.” When Election Day begins, the “hasn’t voted” box is filled with the cards containing the names of the “Saints” and those “Saveables” who appear to have been “saved.” The object is to empty that box, transferring the cards to the “has Voted” box as each voter casts his or her ballot.
At stated intervals, messengers run the “has Voted” cards to headquarters where they are pulled from the master file, giving the precinct headquarters crew an instant check on the number of people still to be gotten to the polls. The “running of the card” can be eliminated with internet connection and a decent data management program.
Computer data management systems may have made the “shoe box game” obsolete but the concept is the same. Make sure that you have used all reasonable efforts to have every “Saint” and “Saveable” vote on Election Day.
Precinct workers who have served as block captains and know the voters make good checkers.
In some states, election officials permit checkers to set up a table and their computers and files inside the polling places. Where this is not allowed, the job of checking has to be done outside. This can be much more difficult, but the precinct leader who has recruited enough aides will be able to meet situations peculiar to his area.
Telephoning the Vote: As the voting reports of the checkers from the polls come in, lists of the “hasn’t voted” are pulled at precinct headquarters. Around 1:00 or 2:00 P.m., the telephone callers should go into action.
Specific areas are assigned. It is the telephone aides’ task to remind those who haven’t voted to go to the polls. They inquire if transportation or temporary care of a child is required.
The size of the precinct will determine the number of workers needed in this operation. If the job is formidable, many precinct leaders set up a special committee and put it through “dry run” telephone training before the election. The assignments are ideal for the stay at home parent volunteers of the precinct organization.
Transportation-Sitters. Automobile driver-volunteers are on hand or in touch with precinct headquarters at all times. A crew of well-instructed, careful drivers is assembled. The precinct is divided into sections and assignments made so prompt service is assured voters who require it. The baby-sitters are just what the word implies. Those given this assignment are carefully chosen.
Assignments for both transportation and baby-sitting usually are made up well in advance from the information gleaned through the house-to-house check by the block captains. Assignments made on Election Day itself are “emergency” ones.
Watching the Count
Although it is prudent to be ever vigilant, the incidents of voter fraud, in most areas, appear to be small in number. Of the 197 million votes cast for federal candidates between 2002 and 2005 only 40 voters were indicted for voter fraud. Only 26 of those cases, or about . 00000013 percent of the votes cast, resulted in convictions or guilty pleas. No one could argue that the small number of voter fraud convictions may not be representative of the scope of the problem and that this may be similar to the number of people indicted and convicted for tax fraud when in fact a large number of taxpayers “cheat” in some small way.
We all know of anecdotal “evidence” of past massive voter fraud, take for example the election of John Kennedy in 1960 due to alleged voter fraud (cemetery headstones voting, etc.) in Mayor Daley’s Chicago.
Fraud does exist, people do vote twice, Felons vote and other irregularities do occur. Actual individual fraud is low probably because the reward (usually) is low for casting a fraudulent ballot by an individual while the theoretical risk of prosecution is high. There is a recent example of a number of people voting in both Maryland and Virginia in same election.
Voter suppression is more the choice of those who wish to control the vote. An attempt to prevent qualified voters from voting by organized groups is, and has been, a problem from the beginning of our country. The precinct leader must make sure that they are aware of current attempts to suppress votes, and to the extent possible at the local level intercede when they discover such attempts. State party’s’ should be able to give advice of such activity during the current election cycle.
Thus, it is imperative that the precinct leader makes sure election officials representing his party are alert and trained to recognize fraudulent acts. State laws usually are explicit on how the polling place is to be set up, on procedures covering the ballot boxes or machines and on the handling and marking of ballots.
By the time for counting the ballots, many election officials (including poll watchers) are tired, hungry, or disgruntled to the point of inattention and negligence, yet this is the most crucial point in the election.
When alertness fades, dishonest judges may call votes improperly, or a dishonest clerk recording properly-called votes may reverse the tallies.
Even before the count starts and while voting is in progress, dishonest acts can be performed. Here briefly are some of the commonly-practiced frauds a precinct leader will caution poll watchers about:
Spoiling Ballots—usually paper ballots are invalidated if torn, disfigured or marked extraneously. Thus, a dishonest election official can nullify a hostile paper ballot by tearing it slightly or marking it with graphite concealed beneath a fingernail. Who can forget the famous “hanging chads” issue in Florida that so clouded the 2000 presidential election.
The point is that personal judgements were being made on whether or not ballots were counted or rejected due to defects in how the ballot was “punched” by the voting machine.
Trickery by Advice—under the guise of offering guidance to the blind, illiterate or handicapped, some dishonest election officials “mislead the handicapped and the gullible into voting the way the official wants. An alert poll watcher can prevent this.
Crowding the Polls—contriving to line up “stooges” at the polls at the end of the day and ordering each to remain in the voting booth the maximum permissible time is sometimes practiced to dissuade late-coming, honest voters from waiting in line for their chance to vote. This can be countered by getting voters out early in the day, and by calling time on voters who stay too long in the booth.
There are many other ways of “swinging a precinct,” and all of them are given ample study by careful poll watchers. The good precinct leader encourages his party’s representatives to follow his advice:
“Be polite but firm. Don’t allow yourself to be brow-beaten by any one. You have rights, established by law. Assert them courteously.”
Election night
Most precinct leaders gather all their aides at headquarters to await the results of the day’s voting, and to celebrate, or console, each other.
Whatever the results, the precinct leader makes sure the work of his volunteers is recognized with a personal expression of appreciation to all who turned in a good performance, even in defeat, advances made or points gained should not go unnoticed.
It’s Year-’Round Work
Good Precinct leaders with a reputation for winning elections don’t get that way with preelection activities of a crash nature.
The best precinct leaders are those who are around their home neighborhoods a great deal. They are people who know the neighbors and see them often enough so that they have a pretty good idea of what they are thinking and doing.
The leader’s aim is to win their confidence through friendliness, integrity and service.
It’s a year-’round job of making friends—and influencing voters. The best time to build a following is when no election is imminent.
Working with Voters. The successful leader makes it a point to call on their neighbors and establish friendly relations.
There is no substitute for a personal visit. They make visiting a pleasant habit—not too frequent, but often enough to reflect an interest in the voter. And, they leave each time before they wear out their welcome.
Above all, they are a good listener. They let the other person talk. The information they gain about the voters becomes valuable knowledge when the time comes to get people out to vote.
They serve their neighbors by offering assistance in times of adversity or temporary emergency. In numerous cases they may be the only person in the neighborhood with connections at city hall or the courthouse who can give advice and aid in matters dealing with the authorities.
A successful precinct leader should be the first person newcomers to a neighborhood meet. They make a “welcome” call shortly after they move in. one of their most appreciated services is furnishing information about schools, stores and Churches and local banks. They may also offer to expedite the turning on of utilities and the installation of phones.
A good precinct leader is in the forefront in stimulating community projects of all kinds. They help with community chest and other drives in their neighborhood, not only because they are a good citizen, but because it enables them to contact their voters in the role of good citizen as well as a partisan seeking votes.
They are known and respected by local authorities and can enlist their aid when the neighbors need help with legitimate “around home” problems.
They are well informed on campaign issues at election time, know the candidates personally and can discuss their qualifications. They talk politics only at the opportune time—and refrain from arguing.
An astute precinct leader might put out an “inside politics” letter to all the voters in their precinct every few months that could be distributed by mail, e-mail or hand delivered. It could carry brief reports of political events that may have been covered in the newspaper but overlooked by most people. This chatty publication would give the voters a “feel” of local, state and national political developments. Benefits accruing to the precinct leader include a reputation for being a well-informed political observer, one whose advice can be safely sought and accepted at election time.
Summed up, the successful precinct committeeman or woman is busy every day of the year—a personable, energetic, helpful neighbor and citizen.
Keeping the Aides interested
Between elections, the precinct leader makes a special effort to keep their block captains and other volunteers interested and working.
A once-a-year social event, such as a picnic or a party at the leader’s home, helps boost morale. Sometimes party funds are available. More likely, the precinct leader will finance the event or hold it on a “bring-your-own” basis.
Workers can keep busy bringing the voter lists up-to-date. Block captains can keep constant watch on their assigned dwelling units to make sure all new voters are located, called upon, and registered.
There’s usually a continuous need for clerical work to keep files up to date, to mail literature and so on.
In terms of concrete rewards, there is little the precinct leader can do for their block captains. In the old days, those who wanted government jobs would be taken care of. Today, most of the government jobs are on the “civil service” list. Jobs that are available are likely to be unattractive to precinct workers.
There are, however, a few things the precinct leader can do for their workers. Precinct leaders make it a point to become well-acquainted with the local officeholders: mayor, councilmen, judges, court clerks, town, city or county clerk, state legislators and congressmen. Every citizen has occasional contacts with the government on matters such as building permits, public contracts, tax assessments, licenses, military service, and so on.
The precinct leader, by being able to go to the right official, can often expedite matters within the bounds of propriety, arrange for adjustments where there has been a misunderstanding or a rule has been misapplied by an overzealous or careless official.
When a voter comes to a block captain with a problem of this kind and the precinct leader can get results for them, the block captain goes back to the voter looking like a very important figure that can slash red tape and get results. Block captains, like anybody else, are not averse to creating the impression that they are influential.
The precinct leader can also make a point of having high officials join the workers at their annual get-together. This personal contact with important officeholders is in itself somehow rewarding to people. If the leader can arrange for a congressman or someone of like status to tell the precinct workers how important their work is to the party, the community, and to them personally, it is a very helpful kind of recognition.
But in the final analysis, the precinct leader’s ability to hold a good precinct organization together depends on their personality and their ability to make the workers understand that their work is important. Just as there is no substitute for victory at the polls, nothing can take the place of real leadership at the precinct level.
From Precinct Leader to higher Leadership
The Precinct Leader who wants to rise higher in their party’s leadership must demonstrate their ability to turn out a good vote in their precinct, and do it consistently. Votes make the only noise listened to by the party’s top leadership.
At the core of all the votes they get in any election are the individuals they have brought together as their volunteer precinct workers.
A calculation of the sure votes they can command as a result of whipping together a tight, loyal organization might run this way:
1. The two election officials they had a hand in selecting; their spouses, grown children, parents—at least 6 votes.
Three poll watchers and challengers who also have “family votes”—at least 10 votes. Four vote checkers, their “family votes”—at least another 12 votes.
Three telephone-headquarters workers, their families—at least 10 votes.
Drivers, sitters, block captains, their families—at least 20 votes.
The total is a possible 58 votes. Add the vote of the precinct leader himself, their spouse, grown children, other adult family members, or close friends and the total could exceed 65. With this number of votes as a base they can generally carry the precinct in a primary election.
These 65 votes, however, form only the bottom layer on which the precinct leader must build. The top layers and the icing on the cake are the other votes they capture in the precinct.
Along with being friendly and helpful, the precinct leader strives to learn what people want.
Most people are interested in something. The range is inexhaustible—golf, woodworking, bird watching, their church, their children, their school, etc. cultivating them on that basis, the precinct leader wins their regard, if not their friendship. In a way, the precinct leader, like all good salespeople, talks to people in terms of their interests to create a favorable impression of him and their product.
If they like him or her, they’ll vote for their ticket or ask their advice.
The same thing is true when they sympathize with the pet peeves of neighbors.
Learning all they can about their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and inclinations, the precinct leader notes this information on the cards in their master file. A quick look at the card and they know what to say to interest each person and what subjects to avoid. The “card” file is probably a computerize listing but you get the idea.
After a year or two of this friendly, low-pressure type of “politicking,” a precinct leader will find they have become a political leader in the eyes of many neighbors. Even those on the other side of the political fence will lose their reluctance to seek their advice. Perhaps they’ll be slightly apologetic but the committee person will know they have arrived if they say: “John (or Jane) I am not on your side, but you knows what is going on. Give me the low down on the candidates on the ballot this fall”.
If the precinct leader can get a member of the opposition (a sinner) to “split” their ticket and vote for one or two of the leader’s candidates who need help, they are making great political strides.
Along with displaying their vote-getting propensities, the precinct leader with aspirations for higher party leadership demonstrates their party loyalty by operating within the party organization. This means supporting decisions made on the upper level, and avoiding the label of trouble maker. This, of course, does not mean they demean themselves or condone improper manipulations. You may have disagreements with the party platform but you must work from within to make change. If enough people are willing to work within the system change can and will take place.
This does not mean, however, abject surrender in any intra-party dispute that requires a firm stand and resolute action. If a precinct leader is compelled to fight, they fight as cleanly and fairly as possible. They know that after a party fight, the principals have to get together to win in November. If the split isn’t healed, resentful workers sit on their hands.
Resentful voters don’t vote—or vote for the other party. Patience will be rewarded.
A precinct leader’s decision to fight, however, will depend upon whether they know they have the votes to win.
Sounding out their support beforehand is simply sound insurance.
A newcomer to politics in an eastern city has explained what it means to be involved in a fight and what it takes to get elected:
A precinct leader will find they can go farther after their “baptism” if they cultivate their party leaders. But they must learn to recognize when they have received a commitment, as opposed to a friendly brush-off. Most politicians of any stature depend on a friendly personality to charm all comers. Only time, experience, and association with those in power will aid the rising politician in learning upon whom they can depend.
What are the Rewards?
The work of the precinct leader and their team requires detail work, hours of time spent talking to all kinds of people and more hours trying to help some of those that need help. It requires patience and restraint in dealing with party members who are impatient because the party has not yet brought about their ideas of heaven on earth. It requires another kind of patience and restraint to keep people working for them who are often incompetent and unreliable—but the only help they can get.
Why does the precinct leader go on year after year doing all this work? What is in it for them?
Some people just like it. Some just have a great drive to organize things and happen to settle on precinct work instead of some other community activity. Others have been brought up in political families and assume it as a way of life and a community responsibility.
Some have a genuine need to work for good government and realize that a person can be most effective working within one of the two major political parties. Still others have political ambitions and figure the way to realize their ambitions is to start at the bottom and work their way up.
But whatever the feelings and motivation of the precinct leader, it is they who organizes and turns out the votes that spell victory for the party’s candidates?