Committeepersons
Door Scripts for Committeepersons: Intros, Petitions, Turnout
These are door scripts a precinct committeeperson can use as written or adapt: a first introduction, a petition signature ask, an election judge ask, a turnout reminder, and short answers to the questions neighbors ask most. Each one is built to take under two minutes, to sound like a neighbor rather than a campaign, and to end with something you can record.
Read them out loud a couple of times before you go, then put them in your own words. Scripts work best as a skeleton, not a recital. For the bigger picture of the role, see the Illinois precinct committeeperson handbook.
Before you knock: three rules for every script
- Say who you are and why you are there in the first ten seconds. People decide quickly whether to keep the door open.
- Ask one clear question. Every script below ends with a question that has a recordable answer.
- Record the result before you reach the next door. A script without a record is a conversation you will have to repeat.
Script 1: The first introduction
Use this on your first pass through the precinct, or whenever you meet a household for the first time.
Hi, I'm [Name]. I live over on [Street], and I'm the [party] precinct committeeperson for this precinct. I'm not selling anything or asking for money. I'm just walking the neighborhood to introduce myself so you know who to ask if you ever have a question about voting or about the party. Is this a good address to reach you at?
[Listen.]
One quick question while I'm here: is there anything going on in the neighborhood you'd want the party to hear about?
Thanks. Here's my contact information. If you ever want help finding your polling place or getting a mail ballot, I can point you to the right office.
If they ask what a committeeperson is:
Each party elects one committeeperson per precinct at the primary. We sit on the county party's central committee and help with things like finding election judges and getting candidates' petitions signed. Mostly I try to be a neighbor who knows where to find answers.
That short answer stays within what the role is by law and what county parties typically expect (10 ILCS 5/7-8, 13-1).
What to record: contacted, with notes on any concern raised and whether they seemed open to hearing more.
Script 2: The petition signature ask
Use this when your party's candidates need signatures from your precinct. For the 2027 elections, filing is October 19 to 26, 2026 for the February 23 track and November 16 to 23, 2026 for the April 6 track. Petitions are signed in ink on the official form, the signer must sign personally, and you, as the circulator, must personally witness every signature on your sheet.
Hi, I'm [Name], your [party] precinct committeeperson. I'm collecting signatures to put [Candidate] on the ballot for [office]. The petition is what gets a candidate's name on the ballot. Are you registered to vote at this address?
[If yes:] Great. Would you be willing to sign? I'll need your signature and your address as it's registered.
[If they hesitate:] That's fine. Can I leave a card in case you have questions about the candidate?
Notes for party primary petitions:
- A qualified primary elector of a party may not sign petitions for candidates of more than one party in the same primary (10 ILCS 5/7-10). If someone says they signed for the other party's candidates this season, thank them and move on rather than collect a signature that can be struck.
- Each person signs for themselves. A spouse or family member cannot sign for someone who is not home.
- Do not hand your sheet to someone else to finish. One circulator per sheet.
Notes for the signer's address: it must be the address where they are registered. If they recently moved and have not updated their registration, a signature at the new address may not count. Point them to the county clerk or board of election commissioners to update it.
What to record: contacted, with a survey answer "signed: yes/no." Collect a margin above the minimum; many campaigns aim for 1.5 to 2 times, which is common practice rather than law. Our guide to collecting petition signatures door to door covers planning the drive.
Script 3: The election judge ask
The county board appoints judges from lists furnished by the county chairs of the two leading parties, with the chair asked to list people who live in the precinct "insofar as possible" (10 ILCS 5/13-1). Most county parties ask committeepersons to find those names.
Hi, I'm [Name], your [party] committeeperson. I'm looking for neighbors who might be willing to work as election judges here in the precinct. Judges help run the polling place on Election Day, and the law asks for judges who live in the precinct where possible. Is that something you'd consider, or know someone who might?
[If interested:] Thank you. I'll pass your name along to the county party, and someone will follow up with the details. What's the best way to reach you?
Do not promise pay, hours or training dates unless your county party has given you the current details. Let the official follow-up handle specifics. Our guide to recruiting election judges for your precinct has more on making the ask work.
What to record: a survey answer "election judge interest: yes/no/maybe," with contact details in notes.
Script 4: The turnout reminder
Use this in the weeks before an election. For 2027, early voting opens January 14 for the February 23 election, and February 25 for the April 6 election (March 12 where a February primary ran).
Hi, I'm [Name], your neighbor and [party] precinct committeeperson. I'm just reminding folks that the [date] election is coming up, and early voting is already open. Do you have a plan for when you'll vote?
[If yes:] Great, thank you.
[If not sure:] You can vote early, by mail or on Election Day. If you want to check your polling place or early voting sites, the county clerk's office has it. Would it help if I left that information with you?
For a primary, add one line, because primary turnout is where committeepersons have the most at stake:
This one is a primary, so it's where the party picks its candidates. A lot of people skip primaries, and those that vote have a big say.
What to record: contacted, with a survey answer such as "voting plan: early / mail / Election Day / unsure."
Script 5: The volunteer ask
Use this with people who seemed friendly on an earlier visit.
Hi, it's [Name] again, your committeeperson. Last time you mentioned you might be willing to help. I'm looking for a couple of neighbors to walk a street or two with me on [day], or carry a petition sheet to the people on your own block. Would either of those work for you?
What to record: a survey answer "will help: yes/no," with what they offered in notes.
Answers to common questions at the door
"Where do I vote?"
Your county clerk's office can tell you your polling place. I'll write down how to reach them.
"Can I sign online?"
Not for this one. Candidate petitions in Illinois have to be signed in ink on the paper form, with the circulator watching.
"Can I sign for my husband/wife?"
I'm sorry, each person has to sign for themselves. I'm happy to come back when they're home.
"Who are you voting for?"
I'm here for the party, but you should vote for whoever you think is best. I can point you to where the candidates' information is.
"I don't really follow politics."
That's fine. I'm just a neighbor who can help you find answers about voting if you ever need them.
Recording every door
The scripts above all end with an answer worth keeping. Use a tool that captures it at the door. In Beacon, load your walk list onto the map, let route optimization order the stops, and log each result: contacted, not home, refused, moved, deceased, inaccessible, come back later or left literature, with a 1 to 5 rating, notes and survey answers. Build each script's question into the survey builder ("signed: yes/no," "election judge interest," "voting plan," "will help") so every canvasser asks and records the same thing. If you want help with delivery, the AI script coach is available as an add-on. Offline mode with sync keeps it working where the signal drops.
Make every script count
Scripts get you through the door; a record makes the next visit easier. Beacon keeps your precinct's doors, results and survey answers in one place, with unlimited canvassers on every plan so the neighbors from Script 5 can walk with you. See how it fits party organizations and their committeepersons, or try Beacon free for 14 days and use these scripts on your next walk.