We’re intentional. We don’t just get out the vote at doors, we make connections with voters. We don’t just volunteer for self-enrichment, we are building relationships with each other because we’re all here with a common purpose. That’s why when we travel into communities to talk with voters, it includes learning from local leaders, and building understanding across race and age within our team.
TAKE ACTION TOGETHER
EVERY STATE BUILDS A TEAM.
We actually live out the saying “further together” and don’t let our volunteers work alone. You’ll see that in training with our Volunteer Trainers, in traveling with our Team Leads, and in doorknocking as a group, we do it as teams (even volunteer remotely in-person).
On the ground, volunteers arrive and depart together as a Team. Whether you’re there for the entire trip or just a couple of days, you’re part of a larger Common Power cohort.
EVERY TEAM CANVASSES IN GROUPS.
How do we make canvassing easy?
WE ALWAYS WORK IN TEAMS
THE DAY-TO-DAY AS A FIELDWORK TEAM
An average State Team trip is 5 days, Friday through Wednesday, but volunteers are welcome to attend for however many days they are available to travel. Friday and Wednesday are designated travel days. Saturday through Tuesday are dedicated to taking action as a team through canvassing turf, attending local events and rallies, and learning about the community we’re canvassing in. Travel dates are determined by the urgency for voter turn-out, the request of assistance, and availability of our local partners. Unless announced otherwise, most trips occur the weekend before an election to do rapid GOTV work and view election results together.
Attend an upcoming session of Volunteer Training 103: Traveling with CP to learn more about how we travel together.
Team Nevada at a hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
MORNING MEETINGS
The Team meets every morning at the hotel lobby to get the latest information and your day’s assignments. After breakfast, we share updates on carpools, turf locations, and mini-van refreshers before heading out to get out the vote!
Carpool group in Phoenix, AZ.
CARPOOL GROUPS
Volunteers are in carpool groups that our Team Leads organize. We intentionally pair inexperienced volunteers with experienced ones. These volunteers will then tackle neighborhoods together for the rest of the day.
New carpool groups are assigned each day so volunteers can work (and get to know) everyone on the team.
Volunteers doorknocking in Philadelphia, PA.
DOORKNOCKING TOGETHER
For the majority of the day, the carpool groups will work together to complete a collection of turfs our partners have given us for the trip. The average carpool group can finish up to 4 turfs a day.
In the middle of the day, carpool groups will take a break for lunch nearby before finishing their turfs.
Group debrief at hotel in Richmond, VA.
EVENING DEBRIEFS
Everyone gathers again every evening to debrief and share the day’s challenges, highlights, feedback, and tips and tricks.
This is what a typical day of doorknocking looks like, but we always make room for special events, or updates from partners. Rinse and repeat. By Day 3, you’ll be a pro.
FIELDWORK ASSEMBLY
= Political Education + Leadership Development
Volunteers at Emancipation and Freedom Monument in Richmond, VA 2023.
While we’re on the ground, our team will speak to local experts who can share the political history of the community and inform us on the specific issues that voters care about. These assemblies, which often happen the morning before we doorknock, give our volunteers a deeper understanding of the communities they enter and engage with.
Dr. Donna Murch in PA, 2024
ED of Advance Carolina Marcus Bass in NC, 2024