Yes You CANvass
Maybe you’re someone who would rather have a tooth extracted than knock on a stranger’s door to talk about the election. Perhaps you tell yourself that enough people are already helping — or that going door-to-door doesn’t actually drive change.
A reluctant canvasser myself, I’ve made all the arguments above (and more!) to justify not hitting the turf, instead focusing on my postcard-writing parties. (Postcard writing is a powerful tool in voter outreach, absolutely, but it’s just one strategy.)
Canvassing isn’t for everyone, but so much is on the line this midterm election. Maybe this is your year to stretch that comfort zone so you can help move the needle.
Bring a friend! It makes it easier and more fun.
Why canvass?
Canvassing is by far the most effective way to get out the vote. Don’t just take it from me. Consider what Bill Mengebier has to say.
In the 1970s, Bill knocked on his first doors as a congressional aide, and he’s been canvassing consistently since 2018. A resident of the Northwest Side’s Mayfair neighborhood and a member of ICNW, Bill is Indivisible Chicago’s Elections Committee co-chair and is leading our canvassing efforts in Michigan, a critical swing state.
Regarding the impact of different voter outreach strategies, he explained:
“One in seven canvassing conversations results in a vote. Phone banking is the next most effective: one in 35. Postcards, one or two in 100.”
He is quick to add that “all forms of voter contact are valuable. It’s not an either/or proposition. We need people to make calls, send postcards and text voters. It’s just that canvassing is far and away the most effective.”
He concedes it can be a heavy lift.
“It’s a long day. It’s a lot of driving and walking,” Bill said. “You have to commit ahead of time so that organizers can include you in their planning. Sometimes it rains. Only 20% to 25% of residents open their door to you.”
But canvassing delivers the vote like nothing else.
Indivisible Chicago makes it easy for anyone who’s interested.
“We organize carpools from Chicago to our canvasses and provide training for everyone — we do an overview on-site before heading out, and you can sign up for a more comprehensive session ahead of time,” Bill said. (The next one is Oct. 7. Register here.) “For those who are new, out of practice or uncertain, we always send you out with a veteran canvasser.”
Bill has accompanied more new door-knockers than he can count, and nearly every time, after a few houses, they turn to him and say, “That’s not as tough as I thought! Let’s divide the block so we can cover twice as much ground.” He stressed: “We always canvass in pairs and maintain visual contact with each other at all times.”
"I love to canvass because of all the people I get to meet. Indivisible sends us to areas where impact will be sky high and every time I leave I feel like I've made a difference in the upcoming election." – Alan B., ICNW member, Wicker Park
Overcoming Canvassing Barriers
I asked Bill what some of the most common barriers are to canvassing and how to overcome them. Regarding barriers, he listed the three C’s: conflict avoidance, complacency and combat fatigue.
Conflict avoidance. Here are common concerns: Someone is going to yell “get off my lawn!” I’m going to get into an argument with a rabid MAGA supporter. I’m not going to have enough information and will come across as ill-informed. “The hardest part is that first door,” Bill said. “After that, most people realize there’s no need to be so nervous, saying, ‘It’s just a conversation like you’d have with a neighbor.’ And then they knock on another door and have another conversation.”
Indivisible supplies canvassers with candidate and issue information, but in most interactions, they don’t even need it. “Conversations at the door don’t get too deep into policy wonk stuff,” Bill said. “It’s more about talking with the voter and finding out how they are feeling.”
Indivisible Chicago Alliance has recently adopted an approach to early season canvassing that comes from our sibling organization Swing Left. It’s called Ground Truth, and it’s all about listening.
“We ask questions and let the voter talk,” Bill said. “It totally changes the dynamic at the door,” whether the person leans red or blue.
Speaking of those red doors, Bill reported that Republican canvassers are a rare sighting in the deeply purple districts in Wisconsin and Michigan where Indivisible Chicago is focusing. That works to our advantage. “Sometimes we are the only people approaching the voter, and when we ask them questions and actually listen, it’s incredibly powerful. They feel heard, often for the first time.”
Check out MS Now's coverage of Indivisible Ground Truth Michigan Canvassing:
Complacency. Here are some ways people talk themselves out of canvassing: There’s a big blue wave — this time, it’s in the bag! They don’t need me because there are tons of people who are better at this who are already canvassing. We’ve all been devastated before by what we thought was a blue shoo-in. Here’s something to keep in mind — elections in swing-state districts are won by as few as two to three votes per precinct. Two to three votes! With these excruciatingly tight margins, every door can make a difference.
Combat fatigue. This is what it sounds like: We’ve been dealing with Trump for a decade, and it’s exhausting. I’m tired and more than a little hopeless. Nothing I do is going to make a difference. “We’ve all felt like this at one time — or many — over the past 10 years,” Bill said. “Canvassing is a great antidote to apathy and anxiety. Taking action. Knowing we are having an impact, no matter how small, helps us feel more powerful. And people are often surprised to find it’s actually fun!”
Indivisible Chicago has a great team of canvassers, but more volunteers are needed.
The most powerful reason to canvass? Quoting a colleague of his, Bill said:
“Close your eyes and think about the worst this regime can still do. Open your eyes, and it’s November. 4, the day after the election, and we’ve fallen short. Maybe just by a few votes in some districts. Won’t you wish you could turn the clock back to do everything in our power to get our country back on track?”
Read More
Why local elections are so critical in an interview with ICNW's Political Analyst Enrique Morales
Make a difference
Now until the election, Indivisible Chicago is canvassing in Wisconsin most Saturdays and in Michigan most Sundays (both are about a 90-minute drive).
SIGN UP FOR OCTOBER 7 VIRTUAL CANVASS TRAINING, 5 to 7 p.m.
Michigan canvass: In a tight U.S. House race, Michigan state Sen. Sean McCann is working to defeat a MAGA incumbent in the 4th Congressional District, which includes Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, South Haven, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and Holland, and help flip Michigan blue.
Wisconsin canvass: The focus is on Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Kenosha, Racine, Janesville, Beloit, Franklin, Milwaukee and Oak Creek. Mitch Berman, a progressive Democrat, has a good shot at unseating a Republican incumbent.
More opportunities to get involved
If you can’t canvass, you can make a difference in other ways. Phone banking, texting and postcards often reach voters canvassing cannot — rural voters, people who don’t open their doors and younger voters. Click below for more information.
Northwest Side chapter events (once linked, scroll down to sign up for current midterm actions)
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