Canvassing

The English politician Jack Straw canvassing

Under Canvassing (German "soliciting" or "canvassing") is the systematic initiation of direct contact to a particular group of people. This type of contact is often used during election campaigns . A campaign team (or candidate) goes from house to house in a predetermined area and engages the voters who live there in face-to-face discussions. Canvassing can also be done by telephone ( Telephone Canvassing ). Similar techniques may be used by non-governmental organizations, trade unions, religious groups, electoral analysts, and even private companies, e.g. B. at doorstep sales .

Concept history

The origin of the meaning is unclear. In the second half of the sixteenth century the word was already popular in England as a term for soliciting votes in elections. The English bishop Hugh Latimer used it early on . In his Sermons and Remains , published in 1555, he writes: "This object is [...] canvassed for" - in German, for example: "For this purpose one canvassing votes." The expression was also known as the English title for a counselor attributed to Quintus Tullius Cicero , published in London in 1714 under the title The art of canvassing at elections .

Goals of canvassing

The main goal of canvassing is to find out how the voter will vote. Discussions or persuasion are of minor importance. This preparation is an integral part of a get out of the vote strategy, a procedure in which known supporters (voters) are mobilized to go to the polls by an apparently neutral organization.

Canvassing can also be used to achieve a combination of the following goals:

Identification of supporters in preparation for a “Get out the vote” operation (GOTV).
Implementation of GOTV during the election ("check out")
Distribution of information and printed material
Persuasion of individuals
Taking donations
Acquisition of new members

Web links

Commons : Canvassing - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

^ "[The sense ...] has not been explained." Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd edition 1989, sv canvass, v.
^ Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd edition 1989, sv canvass, v., 6.
↑ Quintus Tullius Cicero (uncertain): The art of canvassing at elections, perfect in all respects; and highly necessary to be understood by the electors, no less than by the candidates: written near two thousand years ago, for the use of the greatest scholar. Translated by John Toland, London 1714.
^ Paul Richards: How to win an election . 2nd edition, Politico's, London 2004, p. 87.

[1] "[The sense ...] has not been explained." Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd edition 1989, sv canvass, v.

[2] Oxford English Dictionary , 2nd edition 1989, sv canvass, v., 6.

[3] Quintus Tullius Cicero (uncertain): The art of canvassing at elections, perfect in all respects; and highly necessary to be understood by the electors, no less than by the candidates: written near two thousand years ago, for the use of the greatest scholar. Translated by John Toland, London 1714.

[4] Paul Richards: How to win an election . 2nd edition, Politico's, London 2004, p. 87.