Political Campaigns
Door-Knocking Scripts for Local Candidates in Illinois
A good door script for a local race is short: say who you are, say why you are running in one sentence, ask one question, and listen. Most doors last a minute or two, and the voter should do at least half the talking. The scripts below are written for village, city, school, park, library and other local candidates in Illinois, and each one is ready to copy, adjust and say out loud.
Use them as a frame, not a recital. Practice until you can say them in your own words, then change the details to fit your town and your race. Every script ends with a result you can record, so the next knock at that door picks up where this one left off.
For the bigger picture on planning and running a canvass, see our guide to political canvassing.
Before you knock: three rules
- Lead with your name and the office. Voters in a local race often do not know there is an election. Tell them what you are running for and when the election is.
- Ask before you pitch. One open question ("What is the one thing you would change about the village?") teaches you more than a two-minute speech.
- Record every door. Supporter, undecided, not interested, not home, come back later. A door you did not record is a door you will knock again by accident.
Script 1: The first introduction
Use this the first time you reach a voter, with no prior contact.
Hi, I'm Pat Rivera. I'm running for village trustee in the April 6 election, and I'm out meeting neighbors. Do you have a minute?
I've lived on Maple Street for eleven years, and I'm running because I want the board to fix the roads it keeps putting off and post its budget where people can actually read it.
What is the one thing you'd most like the village to do better?
Then listen. Repeat back what you heard in one sentence. If it connects to your race, say how. If it does not, say so honestly and note it.
Close:
Thank you. Can I count on your vote on April 6?
Record: supporter, leaning, undecided, or not supporting, plus the issue they raised.
Script 2: The short version for a busy door
For the voter holding a toddler, a phone and a barking dog.
Hi, I'm Pat Rivera, running for village trustee on April 6. I'll be quick. Here's my card with what I'm working on. Is there anything you'd want me to know?
Hand them literature and go. Record "contacted" with a short note, or "come back later" if they asked you to.
Script 3: The undecided voter
When the voter says "I haven't decided" or "I don't know much about the race."
That's fair. Most people don't hear much about local races. Can I ask what matters most to you about how the village is run?
[Listen.]
That's one of the reasons I'm running. Here's what I'd do about it: [one concrete sentence]. I'd be glad to come back or answer questions any time. My contact information is on this card.
Do not push for a commitment. Record "undecided" and the issue, and plan a second contact before early voting opens.
Script 4: The supporter
When the voter says they are with you.
Thank you, that means a lot. Two quick things. Would you like a text when early voting opens? If so, I'll have you write your cell here.
And would you be willing to put up a yard sign or help knock a few doors on a Saturday?
The text question goes with a separate sheet that says plainly, at the top, that signers agree to receive campaign texts, with a column for the date. Without that dated, written opt-in, do not add the person to a text list.
Record: supporter, plus any sign, volunteer or text opt-in.
Script 5: The voter who disagrees
When the voter is not with you.
I appreciate you being straight with me. Can I ask what's behind that?
[Listen. Do not argue.]
Thanks for telling me. Whatever you decide, I hope you'll vote on April 6. Have a good evening.
Record "not supporting" and leave. Do not knock this door again for persuasion.
Script 6: Petition signatures (April 6 track, through November 23)
April 6 track candidates file from November 16 to 23, 2026. If you are still circulating, use this.
Hi, I'm Pat Rivera. I'm collecting signatures to get on the ballot for village trustee. Are you a registered voter at this address?
[If yes.] Would you be willing to sign my nominating petition? It just puts me on the ballot. It isn't a promise to vote for me.
Keep the rules in mind: the voter signs personally, on the official form, preferably in dark ink, with the address where they are registered, and you as circulator must watch every signature. Never ask one household member to sign for another. Our post on collecting petition signatures door to door covers the details.
Script 7: The second visit
For voters who were undecided or asked you to come back.
Hi, I'm Pat Rivera. I stopped by a few weeks ago, and you mentioned the roads on Elm. I wanted to follow up: here is what I found out about the repair schedule. Do you have any other questions about the race?
The note from your first visit is what makes this script work. Without it, you start over.
Script 8: Early voting reminder
After early voting opens (January 14 for the February 23 races, February 25 for most April 6 races, or March 12 where a February primary ran).
Hi, I'm Pat Rivera, running for village trustee. Early voting is open now. Do you have a plan to vote, either early or on April 6?
[If yes.] Great. Thank you. [If not sure.] The county clerk's website lists early voting sites and hours. I can leave you a card with the address of the clerk's site.
Record whether they have a plan, and whether they said they already voted. Do not knock a voted supporter again.
Script 9: Election Day
Only for supporters who have not told you they voted.
Hi, it's Pat Rivera. Today's the election. Have you had a chance to vote yet? Your polling place is listed on the county clerk's website. Thank you for your support.
Check your election authority's polling hours before your shift so you never give a voter the wrong time.
Literature note for doors where no one answers
Write a short note on your literature piece and leave it in the door (never in the mailbox).
Sorry I missed you. I'm running for village trustee on April 6 and would love to hear what matters to you. My contact info is on the back. Pat
Record "not home" and "left literature," so your volunteers know the house still needs a conversation.
Script for volunteers knocking on your behalf
Volunteers should say up front that they are not the candidate.
Hi, my name is Sam. I'm a neighbor, and I'm volunteering for Pat Rivera, who's running for village trustee on April 6. Pat asked me to find out what matters most to people on this street. Do you have a minute?
Give volunteers Scripts 3, 4 and 8 as well, with "Pat would" in place of "I would."
Step: put the scripts and the results in the same place
Paper scripts and paper tally sheets drift apart. Here is how to keep them together:
- Build and route your walk list. In Beacon, import your voter list from a CSV (name, address, precinct and party fields map automatically), see the doors as walk lists on a map, and let route optimization put them in walking order for each shift.
- Turn the script's closing question into a survey. Use the survey builder to add the questions you ask at the door: "Support on April 6? Yes / Leaning / Undecided / No," "Wants a yard sign?", "Top issue." Canvassers tap the answer instead of writing it down.
- Record the door result. Beacon records contacted, not home, refused, moved, deceased, inaccessible, come back later and left literature, plus a 1 to 5 rating and notes. Script 7 depends on that note being there next time.
- Knock without signal. Offline mode keeps working in basements, cul-de-sacs and rural edges, and syncs results when the phone reconnects.
- Get help with the words. Beacon also offers an AI script coach as an add-on, if you want a second opinion on your scripts.
Every plan includes unlimited canvassers, so adding a volunteer never changes your bill. See how this fits a full campaign on our political campaigns page, or run the numbers on coverage in how many doors a village board candidate can knock before April 6.
Try it on your next shift
Load one precinct, add your survey questions, and knock a Saturday with the scripts above. You will know by Sunday whether the results are worth keeping.