This document discusses strategies for organizing at the precinct level for both campaign and long-term neighborhood organizing purposes. It defines a precinct as the smallest electoral unit and outlines two main types of precinct organizing - short term campaign organizing and long term neighborhood organizing. It provides tips for getting started like knowing the players, rules, numbers and setting goals. It also offers advice on making contact lists, holding recruitment events, delegating roles to volunteers, and keeping volunteers engaged over time.

1. Starting in your own backyard

2. 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 continuous
boundaries

3. What is a “Precinct?”
Smallest administrative electoral unit
Nation State District County Precinct

4. Campaigning and Party Building
• Two types of precinct
organizing
– Campaign precinct
organizing
– Neighborhood precinct
organizing or party
building
• Different goals &
strategies
• Both are important

5. Campaign Precinct Organizing
• Short term: June 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)

6. 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

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

8. Get Started
• Know the players
• Know the rules
• Know the numbers
• Set your goals

9. Know the Players
• Existing precinct leaders
• Local party officials
• Local elected officials
• Active local campaigns
• Community leaders

10. Do the research
• Election dates
• Important deadlines
• Precinct maps and boundaries
• Polling locations
• Party rules and by-laws

11. Know the Numbers
• Voter registration
• Voter turnout
• Democratic
performance
• Other demographic
info
• Individual voter history

12. 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

13. 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

14. Setting Your Goals
Goal: Raise the Democratic Performance of my
district from 20% to 33%
Current Goal
Registered Voters 1000 1050
Registered 300 350
Democrats
Total precinct 500 600
turnout
Total D Turnout 100 200
Democratic 20% 33%
performance

15. Good Advice
The only way I know how
to organize people is to
talk to one person, then
talk to another person,
then talk to another
person…
--César Chávez

16. Making a List
First: Relational - Family, Friends, Neighbors
• Start close to home — literally
• Friends, co-workers, neighbors
• Utilize social networks
– The best recruiters are current volunteers
Primary Motivation:
Personal ties to the one asking

17. Making a List:
Second: The Voter File
• Contact info & voting history of your precinct
• Which strangers on your block vote in every
election?
• Which ones vote in Democratic Primaries?
• Bulk of your list
Primary Motivation:
Sense of civic or partisan duty

18. Making a List:
Third: Public Displays of Affiliation
• Look for signs, stickers, statements
• Displays political passions publicly
• Caution: It’s easier to wear a button than to
act on it
Primary Motivation
Passion for an issue or candidate

19. Let’s Get Together
• Community is about face time
– See each other
– See the context
– See the plan
• Invite your list over
– Lit drop invitations to your list
– Call to follow up
– Informal, intimate, neighborly setting
to gather

20. Delegate!
• Invest your team members
into the plan
Common Precinct Roles
• Ask each person for an • Block Captain
individual commitment • Data Director
• Research Director
• People can take on • Early Vote Coordinator
multiple roles • Poll Captain
• Social Chair
• Everyone belongs to a
block team

21. Always Be Recruiting
Build volunteer recruitment into all your
precinct activities
– Canvassing
– Socials
– Conduct new recruitment drives every 6
months

22. Keep Them Coming Back
• Your team is valuable — Let them know!
• Always provide the context for any action
• Specific tasks and clear goals
• Keep it social, keep it fun
Remember what
motivated them to
come the first time.