Political Campaigns

What to Say When Canvassing: Openers, Answers and Scripts

When you knock on a door, say your name, say who you are with, and give the reason for your visit in one sentence. Then ask one question and listen to the answer. Close with a single clear request, such as a vote, a meeting or permission to follow up, and thank the person whatever they say. Most door conversations last a minute or two, and the person at the door should do at least half of the talking.

The scripts below cover the situations canvassers meet most often. Replace the words in brackets, practice each script out loud, and then say it in your own words. For the larger plan behind a canvass, including lists, territories and scheduling, see our guide to political canvassing.

The five parts of a good door conversation

Canvassing means going door to door to talk with voters or residents in person. A useful door conversation has five parts, in this order.

1. Greet and give your name. Step back from the door and introduce yourself by first name.
2. Say who you are with. Name the candidate, committee or organization.
3. Say why you are there. Give one sentence about the election, the question or the issue, with the date.
4. Ask one question. Ask something open, then listen without interrupting.
5. Make one request and say thank you. Thank the person even if the answer is no.

Record what happened before you walk to the next house, because details are easy to mix up after a dozen doors.

Scripts for a candidate race

Use this script if you are the candidate.

Hi, I'm [Your name]. I'm running for [office] in the [election date] election, and I'm out meeting neighbors today. Do you have a minute?

I'm running because [one sentence about your main reason, in plain words].

What is the one thing you would most like [the village, the city or the school district] to do better?

Listen, and repeat back what you heard. Then close:

Thank you for telling me that. Can I count on your vote on [election date]?

Volunteers should say up front that they are not the candidate:

Hi, my name is [Your name]. I live nearby, and I'm volunteering for [Candidate name], who is running for [office] on [election date]. [Candidate name] asked us to find out what matters most to people on this street. Do you have a minute?

Our post on door-knocking scripts for local candidates has longer versions for undecided voters, supporters and early voting reminders.

Scripts for a ballot question

A ballot question (also called a referendum or public question) asks voters to decide a single issue, such as a tax rate or a change in local government. Explain the question in plain words before you ask for anything.

Hi, I'm [Your name], a volunteer with [committee name]. There's a question on the [election date] ballot about [the topic, in a few plain words]. Have you heard about it?

[If not.] It asks whether [the district or town] should [what the question would do]. If it passes, [one factual sentence about what changes]. Do you have any questions about it?

We're asking people to vote [yes or no] because [one reason]. Is that something you could support?

Never guess at a tax amount or a date.

In Illinois, public funds may not be used to urge a vote for or against a question, although factual information is allowed (10 ILCS 5/9-25.1). If a public body such as a school board placed the question on the ballot, a script asking for a yes or no vote should come from a committee of residents, not from that body. Our post on canvassing for a referendum covers persuasion and turnout in these races.

Scripts for a nonprofit or advocacy group

Advocacy canvassing asks residents about an issue rather than a candidate. The request is usually to sign up for updates, attend a meeting or contact a local official.

Hi, I'm [Your name], a volunteer with [organization], a local group working on [issue]. We're talking with neighbors about [the specific local concern]. Has that affected you or your family?

[Listen.]

Thank you for sharing that. We're holding a meeting at [place] on [date] to talk about what can be done. Would you like to come, or would you rather we keep you updated?

If you collect phone numbers for texts, use a sign-up sheet that says plainly that people agree to receive texts, and record the date beside each entry. Without that written permission, do not add anyone to a text list.

When the conversation does not follow the script

The door opens and they are busy

Respect the person's time and keep the visit short.

Hi, I'm [Your name] with [campaign or organization]. I can see this isn't a good time, so I'll be quick. Here's some information about [the election, the question or the issue] on [date]. Is there a better time for me to stop back?

Hand over the literature and leave. Record "come back later" if they named a time.

"Who are you with?"

Answer directly and completely, because a vague answer makes people distrust everything that follows.

Candidate race: I'm a volunteer with [Candidate name]'s campaign for [office].

Ballot question: I'm with [committee name], a group of residents asking people to vote [yes or no] on [the question].

Advocacy group: I'm with [organization], a local group working on [issue].

In every case, add: I'm happy to leave you our information so you can look us up.

"I don't talk politics"

Many people feel this way, and the right response is to accept it.

That's completely fine, and I won't take much of your time. I'll just leave this, which has the date and where to find more information. Have a good afternoon.

Do not argue. Record the result as "refused" with a short note, so the next canvasser does not knock again.

What to write in a note at an unanswered door

When nobody answers, a short handwritten note on your literature tells the household that someone came by in person. Leave it in the door or under the mat, not in the mailbox.

Sorry I missed you. I stopped by to talk about [the election, the question or the issue] on [date], and I'd like to hear what matters to you. My contact information is on the back. [Your name]

Record "not home" and "left literature" so the campaign knows the household still needs a conversation.

Canvassing tips that make any script work

These habits help any script work better, whatever the race or the issue.

• Practice out loud before your first shift, until the script sounds like ordinary conversation.
• Let the resident talk. Ask your question, then stay quiet long enough for a real answer.
• Make one request per door, so the answer is easy to give.
• Do not argue. A disagreement at the door rarely changes anyone's mind, and it takes time you could spend at the next house.
• Be honest when you do not know. Offer to find out, and then follow up.
• Stay on your list, and go back to the doors where nobody answered. A second visit at a different time of day often reaches people the first one missed.

To canvass effectively, pair these habits with a good list and a record of every door, which is the step below.

Step: record each door result and survey answer

Every script above ends with an answer worth keeping. In Beacon, the step works like this:

1. Open your walk list. Each canvasser sees a walk list (the list of doors to visit) ordered by street, inside the territory (the set of streets) assigned to them. On every plan, a canvasser who walks outside that territory sees a warning on their own phone.
2. Tap the door result. Choose contacted, not home, refused, moved, deceased, inaccessible, come back later or left literature, then add a 1 to 5 rating and a short note.
3. Answer the survey. Turn your script's closing question into a survey question, such as "Support on [election date]? Yes / Leaning / Undecided / No." The canvasser taps the answer instead of writing it down.
4. Keep going without a signal. Beacon works offline and uploads results when the phone reconnects.
5. Check coverage. Each territory shows how many of its contacts have been reached. On the Growth plan and above, coordinators can also see where canvassers are with live GPS tracking.

For help with the wording of your scripts, the AI Script Coach is a paid add-on starting at $29 a month. Our page on canvassing software for political campaigns shows how these steps fit into a full campaign.

Common questions

Is canvassing effective?

Campaigns use door-to-door canvassing because a conversation in person lets residents ask questions and lets the campaign learn what each household thinks. How well it works depends on reaching the right doors, returning to houses where nobody answered, and recording results. Results differ by race, so track your own: doors knocked, conversations held and supporters identified.

What should you wear when canvassing?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and neat, casual clothes suited to the weather. A name tag or button that names your campaign or organization helps residents see who you are. Avoid clothing that promotes other causes or candidates, and carry something reflective near dusk.

What is the best time to knock on doors?

Weekend late mornings and afternoons, and weekday early evenings before dark, tend to be when people are home and willing to come to the door. Avoid early mornings and knocking after dark. Some towns have local rules about door-to-door visits, so ask your village or city clerk what applies.

How many doors can you knock in an hour?

It depends on the neighborhood and the length of each conversation. As an example only, a canvasser on a block of single-family homes might reach 15 to 25 doors an hour, while apartment buildings and rural roads take longer. Time your first few shifts and plan from your own numbers.

How do you stay safe while canvassing?

Canvass in pairs when you can, or tell a coordinator which streets you will walk and when you expect to finish. Stay outside the home, even if you are invited in. Skip any yard with a loose dog, and leave politely if a conversation becomes uncomfortable.

Try the scripts on your next shift

Choose one script, set up one territory, and add your closing question as a survey before your next shift. Start a free 14-day Beacon trial to record every door result and survey answer from the first knock. The trial includes Starter features and does not require a card.