This document outlines a training session on precinct organizing conducted by Democracy for America. It defines precinct organizing and explains its benefits. Precinct organizing can be done for either campaign purposes, focused on winning a specific election, or for neighborhood purposes, with a long term focus on building the local Democratic party. The training teaches participants to know the players, rules, numbers and goals in their local precinct to effectively conduct neighborhood precinct organizing and increase Democratic voter engagement and performance over time.

1. Precinct Organizing:
Getting Started
September 11th, 2007
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com,
and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

2. Tonight’s Trainers
Arshad Hasan Matt Blizek
DFA Training Director DFA Deputy Training Director
Night School Host Night School Host
2 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

3. Goals for this Session
1. Define “precinct organizing”
2. Explain the benefits of precinct
organizing
3. Learn how to begin organizing in
your neighborhood
3 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

4. What is a “Precinct”
• Also known as ‘Electoral
Districts’, ‘Towns’ or ‘Wards’
• All voters have the same
ballot and elected officials
• Have a set number of voters
• Have contiguous boundaries
4 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

5. What is a “Precinct”
Smallest administrative electoral unit
County
Nation State District Precinct
5 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

6. Campaigning and Party Building
• Two types of precinct
organizing
– Campaign precinct organizing
– Neighborhood precinct organizing or
party building
• Different goals & strategies
• Both are important
6 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

7. Campaign Precinct Organizing
• Short term: July through November of election years
• Organized by campaign staff
• Focused on winning a particular election
• Centered around a candidate
Campaign Organizing Strengths
1. Professionally staffed
2. Controlled message
3. Access to campaign resources (media, volunteers, etc)
7 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

8. Neighborhood Precinct Organizing
• Long term: Not limited by election calendar
• Focused on long range goals
• Organized by local volunteers
Neighborhood Organizing Strengths
1. Familiarity
2. Continuity
3. Access to community resources
8 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

9. A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
This
Campaigns
helps…
• Bring an influx of money
and people
• Get new people involved
Neighborhood Precinct
locally
Organizations
• Create a permanent
volunteer pool
Which • Build institutional
benefits… knowledge about an area
9 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

10. Tonight’s Focus: Neighborhood
Precinct Organizing
• Build a local community of
Democratic activists
• Increase Democratic
performance
• Help progressive
candidates win primaries
• Build and influence local
and state parties
10 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

11. Listener Submitted Questions
11 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

12. Let’s Get Started
• Know the players
• Know the rules
• Know the numbers
• Set your goals
12 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

13. Know the Players
• Existing precinct leaders
• Local party officials
• Local elected officials
• Active local campaigns
• Community leaders
13 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

14. Know the Rules
• Election dates
• Important deadlines
• Precinct maps and boundaries
• Polling locations
• Party rules and by-laws
14 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

15. Know the Numbers
• Voter registration
• Voter turnout
• Democratic performance
• Other demographic info
• Individual voter history
15 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

16. The Voter File
• Voter File vs. Voter Roll
• Usually available through the
county or state party
• Contains voter contact info and
voting history
• More effective if updated
frequently
Don’t have access to a voter file?
Create one yourself!
16 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

17. Setting Your Goals
• Important first step
– Focuses and motivates volunteers
– Helps develop strategies, tactics and
timelines
– Helps gain institutional party support
• Potential goals
– Increase Democratic voter registration X%
– Increase Democratic Performance X%
– Get X% of district voters to vote early
– Build a community of party activists
17 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

18. Setting Your Goals
Goal: Raise the Democratic Performance of my
district from 20% to 33%
Current Goal
Registered Voters: 1000 1050
Registered Democrats: 300 350
Total precinct turnout: 500 600
Total Democratic turnout: 100 200
Democratic performance: 20% 33%
18 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

19. Listener Submitted Questions
19 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

20. Homework
1) Research your local precinct:
- Who are they Players?
- What are the Rules?
- What are the Numbers?
2) Set a goal for your precinct in the next
election
3) Email us and let us know:
training@democracyforamerica.com
20 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

21. Our 4 Part Series
Recruiting Your Precinct Team
Tuesday, September 18th
www.dfalink.com/precinctrecruiting
Listen to tonight’s call or
previous sessions at:
Making an Impact
www.democracyforamerica.com/
Tuesday, September 26th
nightschool
www.dfalink.com/makinganimpact
Building Networks Across Precincts
Tuesday, October 4th
www.dfalink.com/buildingnetworks
21 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

22. Thank you for joining us!
Need to catch up on earlier Night School presentations?
Order previous semesters on DVD (and help keep Night School free)
Summer 2007 Semester on Fundraising now available!
www.democracyforamerica.com/nightschooldvd
https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/trust
22 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com