9-minute read
Voting is essential to our democracy, but getting people to the polls on election day can be challenging. That’s where Get Out The Vote (GOTV) comes in. GOTV is a grassroots effort to mobilize voters and increase turnout on election day. This article will provide a beginner’s guide to GOTV, including what it is, why it’s essential, and how you can get involved. Whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned political activist, there’s something here for everyone. So read on to learn more about get out the vote and how you can help make a difference in the next election.
And when you’re done, head over here for Get Out the Vote 101 (Part 2).
The History of Get Out The Vote
The history of GOTV in campaign tactics dates back to the early days of our democracy when voter turnout was relatively low, and efforts to increase turnout were limited. In the 19th century, political parties and other organizations began organizing voter education campaigns and other initiatives to get more people to the polls on election day.
As the United States entered the 20th century, vote campaigns grew in scope and sophistication. Parties and other organizations began using new technologies, such as the telephone, to reach out to potential voters and remind them to cast their ballots. Voter registration drives also became more common, as did efforts to provide transportation to the polls for those who needed it.
GOTV continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, with the development of new technologies and strategies for reaching out to voters and new grassroots campaigns. The use of television and radio ads, for example, became increasingly common, as did the use of targeted direct mail campaigns and door-to-door canvassing.
Turnout Trends
In recent years, political science has observed a trend of increasing turnout in American elections. This trend has been seen in both presidential and midterm elections (including local elections), and various factors have driven it.
One factor contributing to the increase in turnout is the increasing popularity of early voting and mail-in voting. These voting methods make it easier for people to cast their ballots, and they have become increasingly popular in recent years. As a result, more people are participating in the electoral process, contributing to the overall increase in turnout.
Another factor contributing to turnout is the increasing focus on voter mobilization and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on encouraging people to go to the polls and participate in the electoral process. This has included efforts to provide transportation to polling stations, offer free childcare to help people get to the polls, and provide information about the importance of voting and how to do it. These efforts have been successful in encouraging more people to vote, and this has contributed to the overall increase in voter turnout.
Finally, the increase in turnout may also be due to the growing political polarization and activism in the United States. In recent years, there has been an increasing divide between political parties, and many people are increasingly engaged in the political process. This has led to more people being motivated to go to the polls and cast their ballots, contributing to the overall increase in turnout.
In summary, the recent trend of increasing turnout in American elections is driven by a combination of factors, including the increasing popularity of early voting and mail-in voting, the growing emphasis on voter mobilization, and the rising political polarization and activism in the United States. These factors all contribute to the overall increase in turnout, and they will likely continue to do so in the future.
Turnout Trends in Recent Elections
- In the 2002 midterm elections, 36.4% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2004 presidential election, 60.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2006 midterm elections, 39.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2008 presidential election, 61.6% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2010 midterm elections, 37.8% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2012 presidential election, 58.6% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2014 midterm elections, 36.4% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2016 presidential election, 55.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2018 midterm elections, 49.3% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
- In the 2020 presidential election, 66.4% of eligible voters turned out to vote.
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Today, get-out-the-vote efforts are a vital component of any political campaign. Organizations and individuals use various tactics and technologies to reach out to potential voters and encourage them to cast their ballots.
Get Out The Vote Examples From History
Obama 2008
One famous example of a get-out-the-vote campaign is Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, which utilized a comprehensive and data-driven approach to voter outreach. The campaign workers used various methods, including door-to-door canvassing, phone calls, and social media, to engage with potential voters and encourage them to turn out on election day.
Bernie Sanders 2016
Another famous example of a get-out-the-vote campaign is Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, which utilized a grassroots approach to voter outreach. Sanders’ campaigns relied heavily on volunteers and supporters to help mobilize voters, often through door-to-door canvassing and phone banking efforts.
Stacey Abrams 2018
Stacey Abrams, a former Georgia state representative, ran a highly-effective get out the vote campaign in her 2018 bid for Georgia governor. Her campaign focused on reaching out to underrepresented communities and encouraging them to register, mainly through efforts to combat voter suppression. This concerted effort drew on Georgia’s history from the voting rights act, and despite losing the election, Abrams’ campaign is widely credited with helping to increase turnout in Georgia.
Get Out The Vote: Voter Registration vs. Voter Mobilization
Voter registration and voter mobilization are two critical components of a get-out-the-vote strategy. Both aim to increase turnout in an election, but they differ in how they achieve this goal.
Voter Registration
Voter registration is the process of signing up eligible voters to be able to participate in an election. This can involve registering new voters, updating existing voter records, and verifying that all eligible voters are on the voter rolls. Voter registration is vital in the electoral process because it ensures that only eligible voters can participate in an election.
Voter registration can also effectively combat voter suppression by ensuring eligible voters can participate in an election. By registering voters and verifying that they are voters, get-out-the-vote organizations can help ensure that eligible voters are not denied their right to vote. Voter registration can also help to make the voting process more efficient and reduce the potential for confusion or mistakes on election day.
In the 21st century, many examples of campaigns have used voter registration to combat voter suppression. Some examples include:
- The Black Lives Matter movement in the United States: In recent years, the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States has focused on fighting voter suppression and increasing voter turnout among communities of color. As part of this effort, Black Lives Matter activists organized voter registration drives and educated people about their rights as voters.
- The Me Too movement in the United States: The Me Too movement, which has been focused on combating sexual harassment and assault, has also emphasized the importance of voter registration. Me Too activists have organized voter registration drives and encouraged people to vote to support candidates who are committed to addressing issues related to sexual violence.
- The pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong: In 2019, the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong was focused on fighting against efforts by the Chinese government to suppress political opposition and limit the right to vote. As part of this effort, pro-democracy activists organized voter registration drives and encouraged people to participate in local elections to support pro-democracy candidates.
Voter Mobilization
Conversely, voter mobilization is the process of encouraging and motivating people actually to go out and vote on election day. This can involve various activities, such as providing transportation to polling stations, offering free childcare to help people get to the polls, and providing information about the importance of voting and how to do it. Voter mobilization aims to increase voter turnout by allowing people to vote.
Mail-in and early voting
Recently, there has been an increased emphasis on early voting and mail-in voting as part of voter mobilization and get-out-the-vote efforts. These voting methods have become more popular as they make it easier for people to cast their ballots and participate in the electoral process.
Early voting refers to allowing people to cast their ballots before election day. This can be done in person at designated polling stations, or it can be done by direct mail. Early voting has become more popular because it allows people to cast their ballots conveniently rather than waiting until election day. It also helps reduce long lines at polling stations on election day and can make voting more efficient.
Mail-in voting, also known as absentee voting, refers to allowing people to vote by mail using an absentee ballot. This can be done by requesting a mail-in ballot and returning it to the appropriate election officials before election day. Mail-in voting has become more popular because it allows people to cast an absentee ballot from their homes without going to a polling station. It also allows people who cannot physically go to the polls, such as those who are overseas or have disabilities, to participate in the electoral process.
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In summary, voter registration is focused on ensuring eligible voters can participate in an election, while voter mobilization is focused on encouraging people to vote. Bessentialmportant components of a get-out-the-vote strategy work together to help increase voter turnout in an election.
Head over here for Get Out the Vote 101 (Part 2).
