What I got right and wrong: the beginner’s guide to election canvassing

If there were ever a time to get out and support your local candidate, it’s now. For me, and many others my age, this is the most important general election of our lives so far. Regardless of whether your seat is safe Labour or not, regardless of where in the country you live and regardless of how many Labour campaigners are already out there, it’s so important to get out, get your voice heard, and encourage others to do the same.

As someone who’s made many a canvassing faux pas in the past few months, but also someone who’s learned how to campaign from some of the best, I’ve put together a few top tips for any first-time campaigners. If you read this and think you’d like to give canvassing a go, I urge you to get in touch with your local candidate of choice, and get involved. You won’t regret it, at least, you won’t once your feet stop aching.

1. It’s never too late to start. Some first-time campaigners are as young as 14. Some are as old as 80. It really doesn’t matter when you start getting involved with your local campaign, it just matters that you do.
2. Learn from experience. I would highly recommend spending some time canvassing with a more experienced campaigner before having a go by yourself. Not only does this help you learn from the experience of others, it also helps build your confidence until you are ready to do it alone.
3. Have a prepared opening. Especially when it comes to door knocking, it’s generally good to have a vague idea of what you plan to say before the person opens the door. I have one opening sentence that I use at every door, wherever I am in the country: “Hi there, I’m sorry to disturb you, I’m out canvassing with the Labour Party today.” From there, you can shape the conversation based on how the person responds.
4. Don’t be afraid to be honest. People will ask awkward questions that you may not want to answer, or may not know how to answer. However, when someone asks you your personal view on a certain issue, let’s take Brexit as an example, don’t be afraid to tell the truth and give your view. I knocked on one gentleman’s door recently who said it was refreshing to hear people telling the truth rather than hiding behind political soundbites, so be true to yourself and stand by what you believe.
5. Be aware of the difference you’re making. Your extra pair of hands really do make all the difference. So many people offer help when it comes to election time, but few actually follow through and get involved. Even if you only go out with your candidate once, you’ve still made a huge contribution.

Along with the more general canvassing tips, here are a few more specific ones.

1. Always close gates behind you, even if they were open when you found them. People get very upset about their gates.
2. Beware of dogs when leafletting. This one is pretty self-evident, but the feeling of a dog grabbing a leaflet out of your hand with their teeth is not the most pleasant feeling in the world.
3. Don’t knock doors after 8pm. This rule will vary based on your area or candidate’s preference, but I tend to think of 8pm as the ultimate cut-off in the evenings.
4. Count your steps! The most satisfying feeling at the end of a long, tiring canvassing session is looking at your phone to find you’ve walked for miles.
5. Smile. Even when people argue with everything you say, or are rude, or answer the door wearing nothing but very thin boxer shorts, always smile. That way, even if they don’t remember anything you said about politics, at least they’ll remember that you were friendly!

Caitlin Prowle is a gap-year student working as a campaigns officer for the Co-operative Party. She has been a Labour member and activist since the age of 16 and has written for the Western Mail and the Institute of Welsh Affairs.