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This is it. For Jessica Jones, early voting is upon her. Her voters are either voting via absentee ballot, advanced ballot, or soon in person. Many candidates around the country and making sure that all of their hard work pays off in the most important element: voter turnout.
No matter how good your mail program is, how slick the digital media campaign, or how impressive your field program is, none of it matters if voters don’t actually turn up to the poll and vote for you. This week, we’re going to focus on early voting strategies.
Before we begin, we need to remember there are some states in which early voting is not possible. Missouri, as an example, is same day voting only. Many states, however, do provide a time period to provide for early voting. Some states organize “advanced ballot” or by mail ballot campaigns. Depending on your state rules and guidelines, early voting may not have impact on your campaign.
For most candidates in America, though, early voting has become a major part of your campaign strategy.
Absentee and Advanced Ballot Programs
Jessica Jones field program has been focused not only on educating people about Jessica Jones, but also signing up people in her state for by mail balloting. Whether your state has no-reason-needed absentee, or an actual program for an advanced ballot, Jessica knows that a great way for her campaign to succeed is to get as many advanced ballots out to voters so she can follow up on them.
When a voter takes an absentee ballot or advanced ballot, the election offices are notified, and as they update, campaigns become aware of who voted to “check them off” their list. This effort, called a ballot chase, is good for the campaign and for the voter.
Voters who vote early find that they are far less likely to get annoying phone calls or outreach, and campaigns find that they spend less money chasing those voters to get them to the polls. At the same time, campaigns can focus on voters who have absentee or early balloting to make sure they turn their votes in to help their candidate.
Poll-Based Early Voting
In Jessica’s state, two weeks before election day early voting in county offices begins. Any resident can go to a county office and vote as long as they come in and do so. Jessica knows that many of her voters have expressed they want to vote in person, but may have difficulty getting to the poll on election day.
Her campaign has kept that in mind, and knowing they have 2 weeks of early voting, Jessica Jones is also working with her volunteers and county to offer rides to the polls for voters who may have transportation difficulty. She encourages voters who vote early to show up and cast their ballot in order to make sure their vote is heard.
The more Jessica does to promote early voting, the less stress she’s going to have on election day, and the more she can focus her campaign on turning out those low-propensity voters. If your campaign can do anything that makes it easier for people to vote, you have to take advantage of it.
Many voters ask: Why Should I Vote Absentee/Advance? I Can Get to the Poll!
The answer to this question is simple: we have no idea what the weather will be like on election day, and voting by advance or absentee ballot is a paper ballot that gets to you and you turn it back in. For many voters, even informed voters, vote by mail whether it is absentee or advanced is preferable for another reason: Google/Bing/News. That’s right. There may be ballot issues you are unsure of in your election. Being able to sit by a computer and check the issues on your ballot can make you a more informed voter.
Why vote early at a polling place?
Voting early at a polling place can save you long lines on election day. It can also make sure that you get the community experience without being pressed in line, which can be costly for many American workers. Early voting at a polling place helps your candidate by giving them fewer things to worry about, knowing a vote for them is “already in the bank.”
Final Thoughts
As election day approaches, Jessica Jones is putting all of her effort into field into turnout now. She has to make sure her voters get to the polls and pull the trigger for her if she wants to win. If early voting is an option in your state, by whatever means, campaigns must make it a central component of their strategy to win.
Next Week: Exhaustion!
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Nuts & Bolts: Building Democratic Campaigns
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Every Saturday this group will chronicle the ins and outs of campaigns, small and large. Issues to be covered: Campaign Staffing, Fundraising, Canvass, Field Work, Data Services, Earned Media, Spending and Budget Practices, How to Keep Your Mental Health, and on the last Saturday of the month: “Don’t Do This!” a diary on how you can learn from the mistakes of campaigns in the past.
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