| If you're a new candidate who is running for | | | | won't take the time to mount an effective |
| office in a local election political campaign, you | | | | grassroots campaign since it's so labor intensive |
| might be confused about what kind of strategy | | | | and difficult to do. If you decide that you're wiling |
| you should use for winning votes. Local elections | | | | to put in the extra time and dedication to visit |
| are very different from statewide or national | | | | voters in their own neighborhoods, you'll likely |
| campaigns that you are used to seeing on | | | | have a huge advantage over your opponents. |
| television every year, and the tactics you should | | | | That's not to say, of course, that you shouldn't |
| use to win your race are every bit as different. | | | | try to raise as much money from supporters as |
| Here are some pointers on what strategies you | | | | you can in your local election. Again, don't take the |
| should use to get voted into office on election | | | | example of large statewide campaigns when |
| day. | | | | judging how much the average donor should |
| First, don't make the mistake of thinking that you | | | | contribute. In a local campaign, a donation of ten |
| need to spend huge amounts of money on your | | | | or twenty dollars from a supporter is very |
| campaign in order to win. In a local election, if your | | | | generous. Another very important tip: always be |
| city or district is small enough, you be able to | | | | sure to write personal, hand-written thank you |
| personally meet and greet many of the voters | | | | cards to every person who donates to your |
| by walking the neighborhoods yourself. While | | | | campaign, no matter how small the amount. This |
| candidates in large races don't have this luxury, | | | | kind of personal interaction with your supporters |
| local elections allow a candidate to get a leg up on | | | | is seldom seen in politics anymore and will make |
| the competition by working hard and using some | | | | your donors feel much more appreciated. |
| elbow grease. | | | | When you have a nice chunk of funds in your |
| If you're facing a deficit of campaign funds and | | | | campaign bank account, you need to be careful to |
| still want to get your message and name out to | | | | make sure that you only spend it on the most |
| the voters, then be prepared to devote at least | | | | effective marketing tools possible. In local |
| an hour a night for door-to-door campaigning in | | | | elections, direct mail is by far the most effective |
| the three months before election day. By arming | | | | form of candidate advertising that you could |
| yourself with simple and effective door cards that | | | | invest in. By putting together a likely voter list of |
| outline your background and campaign message, | | | | people who you think will take part in your |
| you'll be able to meet and reach out to literally | | | | election, you will be able to send out targeted bulk |
| thousands of voters if you work hard enough. | | | | mailings that only reach the homes you need to |
| This kind of shoe leather campaigning doesn't cost | | | | get your message to. Other forms of advertising |
| a lot of money, but it is extremely effective in | | | | simply don't have the effectiveness as direct mail |
| local elections. Most political candidates simply | | | | in political campaigns. |