Election Day

Early Voting: What Do Campaigns Need to Know?

Sep 24, 2020 by Ben Holse (he/him)

Answering Your FAQs about Early Voting in 2020

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we’ve seen a lot of talk recently about early voting in 2020. But early and absentee voting can be very, very different depending on where you live. While there are states that continue to limit absentee voting, early voting, or both, the trend across the country in recent years has been to make it easier for voters to cast a ballot. For instance, some states like New York and Michigan opened up access to early and absentee voting for the 2020 election cycle pre-COVID-19. 

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Tips for Your Election Day Stress Test

Oct 10, 2013 by Ben Holse (he/him)

Election Day: Don't Stress, Just Test!

Before Election Day it’s important that you have a chance to test your campaign’s ground operation. After all, even the best-laid plans can go awry. Testing ensures that your organization can maintain its composure under pressure and gives you an opportunity to iron out any snags before the big day. The best way to test your operation is by creating an Election Day stress test that simulates your operation on the big day.

In order for a stress test to be effective, you will need to treat it as if it were actually Election Day. Thus, like E-Day, it will require a lot of prep work to pull off. You should schedule your stress test approximately 3 weeks before Election Day and fire up your volunteers for their trial run a few weeks before. Try to schedule roughly the same number of volunteer shifts for the stress test that you plan to have on Election Day. Be sure all the volunteer leaders you will use are trained, present, and ready. Also, if you plan to use outside areas as phone banks or staging locations on Election Day, ask to use them during the stress test as well.

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