How To Canvass SCOTLAND S FUTURE IN SCOTLAND S HANDS

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Bernard Hoover
6 years ago
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How To Canvass Canvassing will play an integral part of the referendum campaign.

This pack contains three documents: For Lead Volunteers A Guide To Canvassing Canvassing Script For Lead Volunteers gives an outline and checklist of what's needed for a well-organised work session

A Guide To Canvassing is a starter guide aimed at first time campaigners, outlining the practicalities and process of door-knocking.

1 How To Canvass Canvassing will play an integral part of the referendum campaign. It is therefore critical the Local Groups place a large emphasis on canvassing and voter identification, making this their top campaign priority. This pack contains three documents: For Lead Volunteers A Guide To Canvassing Canvassing Script For Lead Volunteers gives an outline and checklist of what's needed for a well-organised work session on the doors. The exact set-up of what's needed for your own work will vary depending on your local circumstances, however this guide will provide a good starting point for door-to-door activity. A Guide To Canvassing is a starter guide aimed at first time campaigners, outlining the practicalities and process of door-knocking. While it is intended as a starting point, it should never used as a substitute for proper, structured mentoring and training by other campaigners and getting out on the doorsteps for practical experience. The Canvassing Script details how an ideal scenario on the doorstep should unfold. Whilst the key questions and actions should be followed, it's always best to make the script your own, and use a form of words and flow of conversation that you and the voters are comfortable with. Together, these three documents should give allow you and your campaign team to prepare the ideal groundwork for organising canvassing sessions and worknights. While all of the above materials are useful and handy guides on the mechanics and details of canvassing and why it's so important, you should feel confident in adapting or customising the techniques outlined to what is relevant to your area.

2 Training This campaign will include many people who have not canvassed before and therefore may need training and support in order for them to become confident on the doorsteps. Such events can easily be organised at a local level by some of the more experienced volunteers or they can be developed in conjunction with Yes HQ. If you would like help to organise some local training please contact communities@yesscotland.net. Have we forgotten anything? If you have any questions or queries which we haven t covered or if you would like to feedback more ideas about what works (or what doesn t), please communities@yesscotland.net or phone

3 For Lead Volunteers The Team The majority of doorstep work is conducted in teams. If you are the team leader for a door-knocking session you should ensure: You are aware of the layout of the streets the team will be working. Always carry a street map and, on dark nights, a pocket torch. You have enough work to keep your team occupied over the allotted session. (As a rule of thumb a maximum of 50 doors per person can be knocked in a two hour canvassing session.) There are enough materials to support volunteers on the doorstep leaflets, stickers, forms, pens etc. Work Session Checklist Canvass Cards: Each card has space to record Name, Address, Postcode, , Mobile and Gender. It s vital as much accurate information as possible is collected from each voter; the more information collected, the better informed the Yes campaign will be. Fact Sheet: This provides facts, figures and answers to frequently asked questions you will encounter on the doorstep. Voter Registration Form: For anyone eligible, not currently registered to vote. These should be return to the local Electoral Registration Office. Postal Vote Application Form Stickers: Identifies volunteer as a representative of the Yes campaign. Sorry we missed you card: Alerts voters to the fact that Yes Scotland have been campaigning in the area and why. Maps, Pens, Stationery etc: There can never be too many maps or pens in a canvass pack. Volunteers will often be unfamiliar with the area being canvassed, so make sure they have access to a paper copy of a map (even in these days of smartphones etc paper doesn t run out of battery). The canvass cards and Sorry We Missed You cards can be ordered from communities@yesscotland.net. All other items can be downloaded from

4 Motivating supporters to help When you are trying to get volunteers to help with canvassing emphasise the following points to them: They do not have to canvass alone, canvassing can be done in groups or pairs; canvassing is not difficult and is something that is easily picked up over a few work sessions. Training will be provided for any first-timers or volunteers returning to campaigning after an absence. Emphasise the importance of personal, face-to-face contact to the Yes campaign; the human touch is imperative in convincing people of our case. Training A short training can help build the confidence volunteers need to have a go. One of the best techniques is to run a short role play. You may also wish to pair up less experienced volunteers with campaigners who have previous canvassing experience under the belt. Advice on training sessions and canvassing techniques is always available from the Communities Team at Yes Scotland. If you have any questions about canvassing, the canvass cards or campaigning in general, please contact and ask to speak to the Communities Team, or communities@yesscotland.net.

5 A Guide To Canvassing Materials required Canvass cards Sorry we missed you cards Copy of canvassing script* Postal Vote application forms* Voter Registration forms* Yes Fact Sheet* Small supply of leaflets for some voters Pens/pencils * These items are available for download at The Individual Appearance is important. Remember, to the electors YOU are the Yes Campaign. Casual dress is perfectly acceptable but don t confuse informality with untidiness. Be prepared for the Scottish weather and wrap up well in winter. Always wear a badge or sticker identifying yourself as a Yes campaigner. Always be friendly to the voter no matter their reaction to you. Smile and be courteous. Shut garden gates behind you, use paths & don t cut across lawns, etc. Don t take negative reactions personally. Not everyone will be a supporter, and some may be very eager to tell you so. So be it. Don t forget there are plenty of Yes and undecided voters out there as well. Record the responses from voters accurately and honestly. We need to hear the bad news as well as the good. Make sure a separate card is filled out for each individual in a household. Never assume one household will share one opinion; ask to speak to each person individually. The Approach Knock door or ring bell (in some areas you may need to buzz the controlled entry intercom to gain access to the close. Explain what you are doing and on behalf of whom, and ask for access to the close to chap the doors. If you are denied entry, try another buzzer, but do not knock the door of anyone who has denied you entry.)

6 Follow script as outlined. If no reply leave a Sorry we missed you card. Remember that Postal Votes and Voter Registration will be crucial. 600,000 people are registered to vote, but never do, and a further 400,000 aren t on the register at all. Make sure those not on the register are offered the opportunity to fill in a registration form. Many people will have questions about independence and the Yes campaign. A number of these are covered in the Fact Sheet that should accompany every canvassing session, but if you are posed a question that you can t answer, suggest the voter visits the Yes Scotland website, or alternatively advise the person co-ordinating the work session of the voter s concerns, for later follow-up. If a voter expresses an interest in volunteering or becoming more involved in the Yes Campaign, direct them to the Yes Scotland website, or take down their details and fill in a volunteer sign-up sheet afterwards. Never put your personal safety at risk when campaigning. If a situation arises which concerns you, do not take any chances, and speak to the individual co-ordinating the work session for further advice. If you have any questions about canvassing, the canvass cards or campaigning in general, please contact and ask to speak to the Communities Team, or communities@yesscotland.net

7 Canvassing Script My name is (insert your name), I m calling from Yes Scotland, the community campaign for a Yes vote in the independence referendum. Question 1 Can I ask you to have a look at this card and say, using a scale of 1 to 10, where are you on the scale regarding Scotland becoming independent? (Hand card to voter) 1 is completely against an independent Scotland and 10 is completely for an independent Scotland (Take card back from voter and mark card survey) Question 2 Can I also ask Should Scotland be an independent country? (Mark card with Yes/No/Undecided) Contact Details I just need to confirm a few contact details to ensure we have a representative sample of the Scottish population in our survey. Can I take your name please (try and get both first and surname if possible) Can I check that your address and postcode is... (Also mark down whether elector is male or female)

8 Further information If voter has answered 8 to 10 on the 10 point scale Give leaflet and draw attention to the option of sending questions to Yes Scotland. Ask if they are on the electoral register - If No then hand over electoral registration form Ask if they are registered for a postal vote - If No then hand over postal vote application form Ask for address and mobile number If voter has answered 3 to 7 on the 10 point scale Give leaflet and draw attention to the option of sending questions to Yes Scotland. If voter has answered 1 or 2 on the 10 point scale Continue to Thank You Thank You That completes the survey. Thank you very much for your time, goodbye. Final Word If there are other residents in the house, please ask if they are available to complete the survey. If not, indicate that we will call back to talk to them at a later time. If you have any questions about using this Yes canvassing script along with Yes canvass card please contact and ask to speak to the Communities Team or communities@yesscotland.net

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For further information, advice and support contact: Matt Butterfield County Development Officer E: matt.butterfield@gls-scouts.org.uk T: 07766 540 057 Greater London South Scout County registered charity