Face-to-face conversations matter. We chat with Mary Leighton to find out why.
We talk to Mary Leighton, Training and Volunteer Coordinator at the BC NDP, about what it means to “knock doors” in your neighbourhood.
Q: What is a “door canvasser?”
Mary: Here in BC, only half of us vote. So making sure our supporters get out to vote is the most important part of our field strategy.
That’s where a door canvasser comes in – they’re our hard-working volunteers who have face-to-face conversations with potential voters.
Our door canvassers talk to their neighbours and identify our supporters. And we make sure our supporters are prepared to vote – in early voting, advanced polls or on election day.
But we also have a saying here at the office – Most British Columbians are New Democrats, but a lot of them just don’t know it yet.
So we’re also having conversations with people about our values and issues that matter in our communities, and letting folks know how a BC NDP government will work for them.
Q: Why do we knock on doors?
Mary: We knock on doors because research shows that face-to-face conversations with people from our community are the number one way we get folks to the polls. We know it works.
We don’t rely on huge corporate donations, and we don’t have millions of dollars for ad campaigns. So if we want our message to connect with people, we have to hand-deliver it by knocking on doors.
Q: I don’t think I can do this...
Mary: Almost everyone is a little bit nervous to knock on doors for the first time.
My mom hadn’t knocked on doors until I asked her to. And then she went with me, and now she loves it.
You always go door knocking with a partner. If you’re new, you’ll go with someone experienced. And when you go out for the first time, you might just hold the clipboard.
We want people to feel comfortable going into the community to talk about the BC NDP, so we provide lots of training.
Q: Tips for door knocking?
Mary: You can never predict or anticipate who is behind the door and what their opinion and values will be. Just keep an open mind. And have fun with it.
After all, how often to do you get to talk to your neighbours about what’s really important to them?
I’ve lived on the same block for a year, but it wasn’t until I went door knocking on my street that I got to know some of my neighbours.
Why don’t you join us sometime? Knocking on doors is fun, easy, and it’s the number one way you can help build a better BC.