Union Lessons on GOTV and Phone Banking

By LaborUnionReport | 6:00 PM on March 06, 2014

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It’s a given that the only way a party/candidate/cause can win elections is by having more ballots in the box than the other side.

In most elections, whether they be political elections or workplace elections, unions maintain a superior ability to “get out the vote” most of the time.

Therefore, when the pro-union LaborNotes publishes an article (specifically, about internal union elections) detailing some of the myths and facts on GOTV and phone banking, it is worth a read as it relates to just about every other type of election:

GOTV is, of course, no substitute for building a base. GOTV can’t get you votes that you didn’t organize otherwise through member-to-member contact, but it can boost turnout. Since union elections are often low-turnout affairs, GOTV can be the deciding factor.

A comprehensive GOTV strategy includes leaflets, mailings, text messages, social media, and member-to-member phonebanking.

“Phonebanking wins elections,” says Richie Johnson, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 814 in New York. “You can come out with the best flyers and the best T-shirts, but when the ballot comes to your house it’s in a regular envelope. Most people think it’s a bill. You’ve got to remind people to vote and you’ve got to be relentless.” [Emphasis added.]

Read the rest at Labor Notes.