What: Young voter tactics compendium by Young Voter Strategies
When: Dec 2006
Link: http://www.youngvoterstrategies.org/index.php?tg=fileman&idx=get&inl=1&id=1&gr=Y&path=Booklets&file=YVS+Young+Voter+Mobilization+Tactics.pdf
Official summary:
This booklet outlines the best ways to reach and turn out young voters, from
phone banks to door knocks. Each tactic is evaluated through a randomized
field experiment in order to determine how much that tactic increases a person’s
likelihood to vote and for its cost-effectiveness.We also outline what does not
work and is not worth a campaign’s time or money.
We saw in 2004 that young people will vote when asked. This booklet gives
non-profits and political campaigns the tools to turn out young voters in 2006
and beyond.
Partisan canvassing had greatest effect.
Timing of canvassing greatly affects cost.
MV Reading Notes:
Key factor in surge in youth voting is investment in the field.
- Votes per contact will be higher when contact is more personalized and interactive (door to door by a peer, followed by in person phone banking with chatty scripts or volunteer calling, or online where user opts in)
- Young people need nuts and bolts practical information on how to vote.
- Easier voting processes (absentee voting) increased turnout
- Medium matters more than message
- Excluding young voters from lists is a mistake
- Ethnic and immigrant youth are cost effective targets – most trusted messenger is someone who looks like them
- Successful mobilization in one election leads to propensity to vote in next
Tactics:
- Partisan door to door canvassing has greatest impact for $11-14/voter
- Partisan leaflets dropped at door: $14/vote
- Nonpartisan door to door canvassing: $19/hr
- Timing: canvas during last three weeks: $20. Anytime prior: $105
- Partisan door hangars: $23
- Nonpartisan leaflets: $43
- Pro phone bank: $10.50
- Bilingual phone bank: $22
- Volunteer phone bank: $26
- Bilingual student phone bank: $27
- Robocalls: $275!
- Partisan Direct mail to Indian Americans: $40
- Nonpartisan direct mail to latinos: $100-150
- Partisan direct mail: $200
New tactics
- Parties at polls: $10
- Absentee ballot request mailer: $15.65
- Election day reminder calls: $11.61
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