Get Out the Vote
The science and practice of turning supporters into actual voters on Election Day through mobilization techniques.
The Science of Turnout
Getting supporters to actually vote is the single most important operational challenge campaigns face. Millions of Americans who support a candidate never make it to the polls. The gap between support and turnout can determine the outcome of any election.
Decades of randomized field experiments have identified what works. Personal canvassing increases turnout by 7-10 points among contacted voters. Phone calls from volunteers (not robocalls) add 1-2 points. Text message reminders produce modest but measurable effects. Providing voters with a specific plan, 'what time will you vote and how will you get there?', increases follow-through significantly. Social pressure techniques, like mailers showing a voter's turnout history compared to their neighbors, are highly effective but controversial.
