MODULE 7

is voter outreach effective?

Total estimated time: 45 minutes • Discussion Recap

Voter Outreach

Open Progress is one of many groups doing voter outreach. However, recent studies have shown that voter outreach isn't effective in changing the minds of voters. Read the research and info from the groups who persist.

READ:

Lessons from GOTV experiments

by Yale Institution for Social and Policy Studies

Examining Privilege

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. After reading the modules about listening to and communicating with voters as well as tricks of the canvassing trade, do you believe that canvassing can be an effective tool in persuading voters, even if studies show it's not?

  2. Are politicians and activist groups right to continue in-person canvassing? Texting?

  3. [EXAMINING PRIVILEGE] Audre Lorde's piece on privilege in the academy is a classic and has been used by queer folks, POC, and others to describe the difficulty of working within the system. By default, activities like voting, voter registration and voter outreach are activities that take place within the system. After reading Lorde's piece and the Current Affairs piece, how do do you feel about your work engaging voters?

EXTRA READING