What is Canvassing? A.K.A. Field Work

Canvassing is direct contact with the community, usually through face-to-face conversations, but can also include phone banking and postcard writing. There are many different ways to canvass, whether outside a local coffee shop or going door to door in a neighborhood.

Canvassing is hard work; I’ll be honest, it’s not for most people. But the people who can handle the constantly changing weather, humans not at their best, and the occasional vicious dog, well, they have some interesting stories. The work canvassers do is not only physical but also very emotional. Because many canvassers and community members don‘t have specific connections, it allows for more authenticity in both parties. I’ve seen a lot of things in my career, including people struggling with mental illness, societal traumas, and even death. But the genuine connections I make in only 2-4 minutes? They’re beautiful. They’re reinvigorating, and they plant a seed that spreads across the community.

I’ve been canvassing for over 7 years in different cities, through the pandemic, and during the recent 2024 federal election cycle. I’ve watched the changing social environment, and I can confidently say successful canvass programs require a strategic and innovative approach specific to their targeted base.

Who do you want to connect with? Young people? Immigrants? Working-class? Inactive voters? Homeowners?