Power of the Knock
What is the primary reason we go door-to-door?
To build relationships, share information, listen to residents, and help people participate in democracy.
What does "relational organizing" mean?
It is a type of community organizing that relies on and prioritizes relationships both inside and outside of an organization in order to build stronger, more dynamic and creative collective power.
What is one major difference between traditional canvassing and deep canvassing?
Deep canvassing emphasizes listening, personal stories, experiences, and values rather than simply delivering information or asking for a commitment.
True or False:
A good canvasser should do most of the talking.
FALSE!
True or False:
Our job is simply to tell people, “Go vote.”
FALSE!
True or False: Research has shown that personal, face-to-face canvassing can increase voter turnout.
True
Which is more powerful for relational organizing?
A. Talking at people
B. Building genuine relationships
C. Giving people a flyer and leaving
D. Memorizing a script
B. Building genuine relationships
Which question is more appropriate for deep canvassing?
A. “You are voting, right?”
B. “Why don't you understand this?”
C. “What does a strong community mean to you?”
D. “Did you register yet?”
C. “What does a strong community mean to you?”
What is the recommended goal for how much of the conversation the resident should ideally be doing?
Approximately 70% of the conversation, with the canvasser speaking about 30%.
Name two things a canvasser might help someone understand about voting.
Any two:
What are the 3 common barriers to voting?
You meet someone who says, “I don't really vote, but my sister always reminds me.”
What is a good relational organizing follow-up?
Ask about the sister or other people in their network who may also care about the community or voting.
True or False: When deep canvassing you only want the voter to share their story.
False! You want to ask the voter about their experience and then share your own story if/when appropriate then connect the story to the values the voter cares about.
❌ Interrupting
❌ Lecturing
❌ Arguing
❌ Correcting every statement
❌ Trying to "win" the conversation
❌ Making assumptions
A resident says:
“I want to vote, but I don't know where I'm supposed to go.”
What should the canvasser do?
Help them find accurate information about their polling location or voting options and make sure they know where to get reliable election information.
In 2024 our partner organization the Minnesota Justice Research Center conducted a study on the people TONE UP canvassed. What were their findings?
People that were engaged by TONE UP were TWICE AS LIKELY to vote in their upcoming election thanks to our relational organizing and canvassing efforts.
True of False: The goal is to knock on as many doors possible to persuadepeople to vote.
FALSE! The goal is to try and strengthen and develop new relationships with voters at the door.
A resident says:
“I don't vote because politicians don't care about people like me.”
What should you NOT do?
A. Ask what experiences led them to feel that way.
B. Listen to their concerns.
C. Argue with them about politicians.
D. Ask a follow-up question.
C. Argue with them about politicians.
A resident says:
“Nobody listens to people in this neighborhood.”
Which response demonstrates active listening?
A. “That's not true.”
B. “Well, that's why you need to vote.”
C. “It sounds like you've had experiences where you felt ignored. Can you tell me more?”
D. “Anyway, here's our flyer.”
C. “It sounds like you've had experiences where you felt ignored. Can you tell me more?”
Why is democracy navigation especially important?
Because people can be willing to participate but face confusion, lack of information, or practical barriers that prevent them from doing so.
Complete this statement:
“A door is not just a door. It is ______.
An opportunity to connect with a person.
You have 5 minutes left in your shift. You can either:
A. Knock on five random doors and quickly deliver your script.
B. Have one meaningful conversation with a resident who wants to talk and learn about their community concerns.
Which approach better reflects relational organizing—and why?
B. Relational organizing focuses on building genuine relationships, trust, and connections rather than treating every interaction as simply a contact to check off a list.
A resident tells you:
“My neighborhood has changed so much. I worry about whether my kids will have the same opportunities I had.”
Give one deep-canvassing question you could ask to continue the conversation.
The resident says:
“I've never voted because nobody has ever explained to me how it works.”
Give two things a good canvasser should do.
Any two:
A resident says:
“I haven't voted in years. I don't even know if I'm registered anymore.”
What should your first response be?
“That's okay. We can help you figure out what information you need and where to check your registration.”
Key lesson:
Don't shame people. Help remove the barrier.