Get Involved
It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men. Sam Adams Samuel Adams was an American statesman, political philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, and one of the architects of the principles of American republicanism that shaped the political culture of the United States. He was a second cousin to his fellow Founding Father, President John Adams.
money, a communications director and a volunteer coordinator. And every team needs a campaign manager. After the big roles are filled, there are plenty of smaller tasks that need to be powered by humans: literature drops, phone calls, build- ing and installing signs, knocking on doors, making food, etc. When people offer to help, give them a job. Former State Senator Marian Walsh printed postcards that allowed people to write their contact information, and just check a box of what job they wanted. 5. Campaigns, even in this modern era, are won in person. From door-knocking to big gatherings, a five-minute conversation goes a long way. When people see your name on the ballot — you want them to know who you are and what you stand for. Your campaign should keep track of every interaction with someone who might be interested in helping you or voting for you. In larger districts, you won’t be able to meet everyone. So focus on the people who are most likely to support you. “You’re not trying to get a shutout every single football game, you need to score more
3. Figure out your win number and your vote goal. You’re running to win, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to get everyone to vote for you. You just need more votes than your competi- tor. How many votes is that? Here’s how to calculate it: Find the turnout numbers from the last few similar elections and average them. Then multiply that number by the number of registered voters in your jurisdiction. You’ll want to aim for more than 50% of whatever that number is. On the left page of this article, there is a QR code link to a worksheet, from the Conservative candidate training organization American Majority, that you can use to calculate it. You’ll also need to figure out how to get on the ballot. This varies by jurisdiction, but a good place to start is your state’s secretary of state website or your own county elections website. From there, you should be able to download the forms you need and find the deadlines. Don’t miss your deadlines! 4. Build your own campaign staff and don’t ever turn down help. Your team should be a mix of people who know you well and people who know cam- paigns well. Every race is different, but you’ll probably want to find someone to manage
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Students Pocket Guide for Civic Engagement
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