Important role of the precinct captain

The most important and influential person in politics is the precinct captain. They can get 1 in 15 voters to change their vote, vastly more effective than phone calls, mailings or television.

Precinct captains can have an immediate impact by face-to-face contacts with the registered voters in their precinct by calling on each one and asking them to volunteer and to contribute. Very few volunteer on their own but a significant percentage will volunteer if asked.

But a captain is just scratching the surface if they only call on the registered voters. In the last primary election in my precinct, 75 voters identified for my party. However, 225 people actually voted for our party's candidate in that primary. Thus, two-thirds of my party's voters were unknown. Finding out who they are and getting them to come out to vote, especially in an off-year election, can have a major impact for close races.

How do you identify these voters? Through a process known as "ID-ing" the voter by personal contact and asking questions.

Most ID-ing of voters is directed at the voters who actually vote. If, however, you contact those who are registered but don't vote you can significantly increase your party's vote totals. Offer to help them with babysitters on election day or assistance in early voting or absentee voting.

And finally, to get the biggest possible turnout, you need to find eligible voters who are not registered. Maybe they moved and didn't register. Maybe they are students who need to register and then vote by absentee ballot. Whatever the reason if you can get them to register and vote experience shows there is a 90 percent chance that they will vote for the party that gets them to register.

Contact your ward or township committeeman to volunteer.

Kent Kirkwood

Mount Prospect