Preliminary report on Kanu's 2012 elections work.

1. Preliminary Report
2012 Your Vision Your Vote

2. Disappointed People Disappointing Politics
* cynical 1 . Gather voices
* $ and connections
* don’t vote 2. Expand the vote * personal loyalties
* hate politics 3. Info for accountability * polarized, blameful
* don’t pay attention * no accountability

3. 1. We engaged voters by asking what matters to them
Volunteers knocked on more than 1,800 doors in low-turnout areas of the Waianae
Coast, Windward Oahu, Waimanalo, and lower Manoa and reached out friend-to-friend
online to ask “What’s most important to you this election year?”

4. 1. We engaged voters by asking what matters to them
We compiled the results and used them to draft candidate questionnaires that spoke to
the priorities of residents.
Kaneohe Waianae
Manoa Kailua

5. 2. We worked to register voters in areas with low turnout
We registered voters by making presentations in classrooms of college campuses (UH
Manoa and Community Colleges), tabling at community events and outside
supermarkets and farmers’ markets, and registering people at the door.

6. 3. We put elections info into new, engaging formats
We put information on candidates and elections into new formats: simple candidate
look-up tool; candidate guide in game format; issues and voter info as Infographics,
shared this content friend-to-friend online and via social media.

8. Results: Engagement by the numbers
Sadly, final data on who voted not be available from the Office of Elections
until Feb 2013. For now, here is what we know…
• 1,860 doors knocked; 106 classroom presentations; 27 tabling venues
• 2,657 new voters registered, concentrated in low-turnout areas
• 3,223 people provided input on questions for candidates
• 20 volunteers reaching out online drove 2,100 visitors to candidate info
• 2,000 avg daily unique visits to the site during elections (up from 800)
• 26,000 total unique visitors to the site during elections period
…achieved with 40 volunteers, info in new formats and channels, and
$15,000 for printing, supplies, food for volunteers.
- compared to -
…average campaign for State House District with turnout of 7,000 voters is
$30-$40,000.

9. “I've been seeing the effects of Kanu's work all over the state and on Social Media. I will be doing a presentation
at my alma mater to high school juniors and seniors about the importance of voting, and my experiences this past
year. I want to be able to provide the student with opportunities to get involved during the next election cycle in
2014. Are there any ways students can begin to be prepared for the next election cycle through Kanu?”
- Tony H, Waianae (UH Manoa Sophomore)
“This candidate info was very informative as I had no idea what the candidate's opinions were or even what their
names were. The questions were broad enough to understand where each person came from. I "found" my
candidate. I posted the entry site of Kanu on facebook. Good job, just want to give you feed back.”
- Gina H, Honolulu
“For the first time in recent memory I voted outside of my political party. After playing the game and reading the
answers, I just could not bring myself to vote for the candidate [in my Party].”
- Former State Representative
“Just wanted to say -OUTSTANDING election coverage on the Kanu site! Thank you . I'm working through the
entire election with my boys ( aged 7 and 9) and they LOVE the candidate game...me too! What a great model for
ordinary people to use and make important decisions. It already made me change one of my votes! I absolutely
will email it - to more than 5 friends. “
- Jo M, Kailua

10. The most important outcome: practicing leadership
practice engaging our community and campaigning independent of money

11. 2012 2013 2014
Citizenship Development
* Gather community input to * Engage people in targeted + A base of engaged people
identify key issues/questions grassroots advocacy who know the issues and
* Engage, register, and inform * Pass a few key pieces of engage their leaders
critical mass of voters legislation
* Bring under-represented * Report back post-session on + Proactive citizens who set
voices into electorate leaders’ performance the agenda in conversation
* Get candidates/politicians to with their leaders
listen
Leadership Development
* Practice canvassing, data * Practice mobilizing others to + Leaders equipped to lead in
collection and management push for policy change a political or community
* Practice presenting to groups * Practice communicating to a context (e.g., may run for
of people mass audience online office, advocate on issues, or
* Practice engaging diverse * Learn about policy issues and help campaigns)
peoples in different settings analysis
* Get to know our * Practice “grassroots lobbying” + Leaders who are adept at
communities intimately listening and leading in any
* Learn how to maintain context
community relationships
Practice listening Practice leading Being the leaders we hope for

13. The work ahead: being the leaders we wish to see
practice leading with minimum use of $$$ and maximum citizen participation
2013 – use the tools and experience of the election…
• Follow a handful of issues in 2013 Legislature (Jan-Apr)
• Educate communities about those issues
• Encourage constituents to engage their elected leaders
• Track leaders’ post-election performance and report back for accountability
2014 – volunteers run for office or manage campaigns in a new way…
• increase citizen participation
• less dependent on $ for campaigns
• maintain civil and respectful politics - listen and lead