Running Your Petitioning Shift

A checklist of action items to keep in mind as you move through your shift.

Start of Shift

• Arrive first at the designated meeting location to welcome shift participants

• Make sure new canvasser petitions are folded and clipped to the signature page

• Pass out resources

  • Petitioning kits for new canvassers: clipboards, both petition packets

  • Additional petition packets as needed

  • Extra supplies as needed: pens, sunscreen, water bottles, snacks

• (Optional) Provide campaign updates or give a Rousing Speech

  • If there are new activists at your shift, it may be helpful & motivating to share the current state of the campaign, what our goal is, and how close we are to achieving that goal

    • This could include the number of total signatures or % to our total signature goal. These stats can typically be found in the #a-co-campaign channel in Slack or the [progress tracker]

• Discuss the shift plan

  • Talk about how you'll distribute across the event, location and time for meeting up at the end of the shift, etc. Share where you’ll be standing in case anyone has questions

  • (Optional but encouraged) Have canvassers set a group signature goal

• Provide some brief reminders

  • Direct voters with additional questions to the PAF website via the QR code on the clipboards

  • People not currently registered to vote cannot sign

• Provide orientation to new volunteers

  • Provide some basic talking points and the Canvassing Quick Guide

  • Consider some brief role-playing to allow them to practice

  • Offer to let them shadow you or another seasoned volunteer

  • Remind them not to worry about how many signatures they get their first time, and to just focus on getting comfortable!

During Shift

• Check in with newer volunteers mid-shift

  • See if any questions have come up or if they need help

• Stay in a somewhat central/visible location for any questions & needs that arise

• Step in to help as needed...

  • If you hear anyone struggling or unable to answer a question

  • If someone provides wrong information, let them know after their interaction for next time

• Take photos of the campaign in action!

  • Visible clipboard backs

  • PAF shirts

  • Visible faces

  • Action shots of people signing petitions

End of Shift

• Meet at designated location at the agreed-upon time

• Ask some debriefing questions

  • How did it go? What did you notice?

  • What was your favorite/least favorite interaction today? What did you learn from it?

  • What are some other things you learned today? Any insights to share?

• Get a group signature tally to see how the shift went

• Provide feedback as needed to improve performance and confidence

• Remind activists to complete the post-petitioning report form [sent by Stampede]

• Take a group photo!

• Post to Slack after your shift with a photo, group signature count, and shoutout(s)