Young Voter Mobilzation Tactics

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