Phone Banking Still Works
In the age of social media and digital ads, phone banking might seem old-fashioned. But for local campaigns, it remains one of the most cost-effective voter contact methods.
Why?
- No cost per contact (unlike mail or digital ads)
- Two-way communication (unlike mail or billboards)
- Weather independent (unlike door knocking)
- Personal connection (voters feel like they matter, not just part of the crowd)
The key is doing it right. Bad phone banking — random calls with generic scripts — wastes everyone's time. Targeted phone banking converts.
Building the Right List
Start with Your Universe
Just like canvassing, start by defining who you're trying to reach:
- Registered voters in your party (for a primary)
- Within your district
- With phone numbers on file
Apply Filters
Within that universe, filter strategically:
By voting history: High-propensity primary voters are more likely to answer and more likely to vote. Start there.
By demographics: Tailor your outreach to your message. Have a stance that matters to young voters? A position that seniors care about? Create separate lists and customize your talking points for each.
By geography: Want to focus on a specific precinct or neighborhood? Filter for it.
By prior contact: Already knocked their door? Maybe follow up by phone. Already called twice with no answer? Maybe stop calling.
Prioritize
You won't call everyone. Prioritize:
- Identified supporters who haven't voted (during GOTV)
- High-propensity voters you haven't reached
- Persuadable voters (undecideds from prior contact)
- Lower-propensity voters you're trying to mobilize
The Calling Process
Volunteer Setup
Volunteers need:
- The call list (names, numbers, basic voter info)
- A script or talking points
- A way to record results
- Training on common questions and objections
The Script
Keep it short. Voters don't want a 5-minute pitch. A good voter ID call is 60-90 seconds:
- Introduction (10 sec): Who you are, why you're calling
- Ask (10 sec): Can we count on your support for [candidate]?
- Listen (20-30 sec): Let them respond. Note their answer.
- Close (10-20 sec): Thank them, ask if they need info, confirm they know when/where to vote
Recording Results
Every call should be recorded:
- Supporter — Add to GOTV list
- Leaning support — Possible second contact
- Undecided — Note any concerns they raised
- Leaning opponent — Probably stop contacting
- Opponent supporter — Definitely stop contacting
- No answer — Leave a voicemail if you can. A real person leaving a real message makes an impression. Try again later if no voicemail (max 2-3 attempts)
- Wrong number — Remove from list
- Do not call — Remove and flag
Follow-up
- Supporters get GOTV calls as election approaches
- Undecideds might get a second call or door knock
- Yard sign requests get fulfilled
- Questions get answered (call them back if needed)
Phone Banking Tips
Call at the right times. Evenings (5-8 PM) and weekends tend to work best. Don't call during dinner or too late.
Expect a low connect rate. You might reach 20-30% of the numbers you dial. That's normal. It's still more efficient than door knocking in many cases.
Keep volunteers motivated. Phone banking can be repetitive. Set goals ("let's make 100 calls tonight"), celebrate wins ("we identified 15 supporters!"), take breaks.
Quality over quantity. A good conversation that identifies a supporter is worth more than 10 rushed calls.
Don't argue. If someone isn't interested or supports your opponent, thank them and move on. Arguing wastes time and creates a bad impression.
Integrating Phone and Doors
The most effective campaigns combine phone banking and canvassing:
- Phone first, then doors: Identify supporters by phone, then door knock them to deepen the relationship
- Doors first, then phone: Door knock a neighborhood, then follow up by phone with people who weren't home
- Phone for unreachable voters: Apartments with locked lobbies, rural areas — phone might be your only option
Your voter contact program should use both, playing to each method's strengths.
The Numbers
Here's what typical phone banking looks like:
- 100 calls attempted
- 25 people reached (25% connect rate)
- 8 supporters identified (32% support rate)
- 10 undecided (40%)
- 7 opponent/refused (28%)
In 2 hours of phone banking, a volunteer might make 50-75 calls and identify 5-10 supporters. That's meaningful voter contact.
CampaignManager.us helps NC candidates create targeted calling lists filtered by demographics, geography, and voting history. Volunteers access lists on their dashboard and record responses in real-time. See how it works →