GOTV Visualization – A Scripted Role Play
Cast of Characters
Narrator……………………………………………………………………………..Josh
Field Director……………………………………………………………………....Chris
Organizer 1………………………………………………………………………....Jude
Organizer 2………………………………………………………………………....Mayra
Team Lead 1………………………………………………………………………...Renee
Team Lead 2…….…………..………………………………………………………Irene
Volunteer 1………..………………………………………………………………...Ernesto
Volunteer 2…………..……………………………………………………………...Christina
Governor…………………………………………………………………………......Joy
Congressman…………………………………………………………………………Kwesi
Scene 1: Leaving North Carolina
Narrator: Two organizers, Jude and Mayra, have just completed a grueling three-day crash course in
GOTV – Get Out The Vote – in North Carolina. Both are anxious to get back home, but for two very
different reasons. Let’s listen in on their conversation at the airport in Charlotte.
Organizer Jude: I am so tired. I mean, what was up with all that planning, canvassing, and all of that
Votebuilder and My Campaign training. I thought this was supposed to be a little mini-vacation – a time
for some R&R. I can’t wait to get home and sleep in tomorrow morning. I love Saturdays.
Organizer Mayra: Oh Jude, you’re so funny.
(Organizer Mayra’s phone rings and Organizer Mayra answers)
Organizer Mayra: Hi Volunteer Lead Renee! Thank you for calling me back so quickly. We just
finished an amazing three day training on GOTV here in North Carolina. You have been my best team
lead for voter registration and volunteer recruitment and management.
I want to ask you to be my Canvass Captain for GOTV, which means recruiting a team of volunteers to
canvass during Early Voting and Election Day GOTV.
Team Lead Renee: Thank you for asking me Organizer Mayra, I’m honored. Yes, I will be your
Canvass Captain.
 New Organizing Institute 2010
1
Organizer Mayra: Great! I’m about to board a plane back to Arizona. Are you available to attend our
leadership meeting tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM sharp!
Team Lead Renee: I will be there Organizer Mayra. I also am going to invite other team leaders for the
training. I know we can have a great turnout. What exactly will we be covering in this training – you
know how I hate to give up my Saturday morning.
Organizer Mayra: I’m going to share with you our GOTV Plan and your individual volunteer
recruitment goals so that you may own your turf, win this campaign, and deliver the votes we need to
change our laws to reflect our values. Then, we’re going to plan for our volunteer GOTV training this
week. I can’t wait to see you!
Team Lead Renee: I can’t wait to see you too. Have a safe flight back to Arizona!
Organizer Mayra: Bye Team Lead Renee!
(Organizer Mayra hangs up the phone)
Organizer Jude: Organizer Mayra, you’re crazy. I mean, don’t you need some sleep after this
exhaustive week of training? When did you decide to put together a volunteer leadership meeting
anyway?
Organizer Mayra: Organizer Jude, do you remember the skit the first night of the training, where those
two organizers, one organizer who was tired and planned to sleep the Saturday morning after, and the
other organizer who was energized, ready to win, and planned her leadership meeting for the Saturday
after? That’s where I got the idea – and started making phone calls to my volunteer leaders Wednesday
evening to prepare for tomorrow’s volunteer leadership training.
Organizer Jude: Oh Organizer Mayra, you’re so smart.
Organizer Mayra: I know (laughs). But we still have a half an hour before we board the plane. I bet
you could make calls to your leadership to recruit them to a volunteer leadership meeting. It’ll mean
that you won’t get to sleep in tomorrow morning – but it will help you meet our goals and demonstrate
power in this election.
Organizer Jude: Organizer Mayra, you are so right. I’m going to make these calls right now and build
for my volunteer leadership meeting. (picks up phone to make calls)
Narrator: Organizer Mayra got a head start in preparation because she realized GOTV begins now, at
this very moment, in this training for GOTV. Organizer Jude is getting a late start – and only the
completion of this scripted role play will determine if he’ll be able to catch up to Mayra before Election
Day.
Scene 2: Launching GOTV
 New Organizing Institute 2010
2
Narrator: Organizers Jude and Mayra both held successful volunteer leadership meetings on Saturday
morning. Now, both organizers are about to launch GOTV by training their volunteers to Get Out The
Vote. Let’s listen in on a few of the training sessions.
Organizer Jude: Good morning everyone and thank you for coming to our volunteer GOTV training.
First, I want to tell you our campaign strategy to Get Out The Vote and win this campaign. First, we are
going to target voters who would not otherwise vote without our help. We’re going to do this to
demonstrate to those in power that they must listen to our concerns and make the right decisions for us
and our community.
Volunteer Christina raises her hand
Organizer Jude: Yes Volunteer Christina?
Volunteer Christina: Shouldn’t we target people who vote? I mean, it seems like a lot of work to target
people who don’t vote.
Organizer Jude: I’m glad you asked this question Christina. Our movement is about building capacity
and demonstrating power. After the election we have to be able to tell those in power that we can
influence an election.
We have registered over 13,000 new voters this year. That’s real power. But we can’t stop there. Now,
we have to demonstrate that we can mobilize our community and get all of our new registered voters,
new voters from 2008, and voters who skipped the 2006 mid-term election to vote now in 2010 –
another mid-term election. Does that make sense?
Volunteer Christina: I think so, but let me make sure. You’re saying that this year we will demonstrate
power by getting our unlikely voters to vote. That way, we can show our Governor or Congressperson
or local elected official that we have power and that if they want to keep their job, they better listen and
take action on our demands.
Organizer Jude: You’ve got it Christina! Well said!
Narrator: Now that the volunteers have learned who we are targeting, let’s take a look at Organizer
Mayra’s volunteer training where Mayra is about to train volunteers on how we Get Out The Vote.
Organizer Mayra: Now that we’ve learned about who we are targeting, let’s learn about how we will
turnout our voters. The most effective way to GOTV is door knocking and phone banking. In order for
us to demonstrate power and win this campaign we need to complete 247 volunteer canvass shifts and
56 volunteer phone shifts during Early Vote and then 116 volunteer canvass shifts and 25 phone shifts
during the 3 days prior to and on Election Day.
Volunteer Ernesto raises his hand to ask a question
Organizer Mayra: Yes Volunteer Ernesto?
 New Organizing Institute 2010
3
Volunteer Ernesto: Our voter registration efforts were successful because of site registration at grocery
stores, college campuses and other local hot spots. Why aren’t we going to go back to these places for
GOTV? And can’t we just use GOTV text messages, robo-calls, and emails to Get Out The Vote?
Organizer Mayra: That’s a great question Ernesto, I’m glad you asked it. GOTV is a targeted process
where we focus all of our efforts on getting those voters who are not likely to vote, to vote early or on
Election Day. If we go back to the grocery store or local hot spots, we’re going to meet voters who
always vote or may be unregistered. We have to focus all of our efforts on turning out our targeted
voters, which is why we are going to go door to door to targeted lists of voters.
Volunteer Ernesto: That makes sense Mayra. We don’t want to waste time talking to voters who are
already strong voters or aren’t registered to vote.
Organizer Mayra: I’m glad you agree Volunteer Ernesto. Let me also address why we can’t use text
messages, robo-calls, and emails to Get Out The Vote. Neighbor to Neighbor contact is the best way to
make sure those in our community vote early or on Election Day. Our voters need to look in to our
eyes, make a solid pledge and commitment to vote, and then we have to hold them accountable. Texts,
robo-calls, and emails are impersonal and don’t force voters to make a commitment.
Volunteer Ernesto: So you’re saying because we take the time to go to these voters households and have
an honest conversation with each voter, that will make them more likely to vote?
Organizer Mayra: Exactly. That personal connection makes all the difference.
Narrator: Pop quiz for our viewing audience: Why are we targeting unlikely voters? And why are we
going door to door to Get Out The Vote instead of using text messages and emails? Glad to see our
audience is paying attention! Give yourselves a round of applause
(Applause)
Narrator: Great. We don’t have time to view Organizer Mayra and Jude performing the entire volunteer
training. Needless to say, now that the volunteers have been trained to und0erstand who we are
targeting and how we will turnout our targeted voters, volunteers will be trained on communicating with
voters and Election Day GOTV. We’ll see the results of these trainings in action later on in this role
play.
Scene 3: Volunteer Recruitment
Narrator: Organizers Mayra and Jude have had successful volunteer leadership GOTV meetings and
volunteer GOTV trainings. It’s October 16th and both organizers are supposed to have 25% of their
volunteers recruited for Election Day and should already have 50% of their Election Day Leadership
recruited. Let’s listen in on their one-on-one’s with Field Director Chris.
Field Director Chris: Hi Organizer Mayra. How was your volunteer training?
 New Organizing Institute 2010
4
Organizer Mayra: Good Field Director Chris. We had twenty five volunteers attend and everyone is
excited for GOTV!
Field Director Chris: I’m happy to hear that 25 volunteers attended Organizer Mayra, but unfortunately
My Campaign does not reflect this data. We need to track all of our volunteer data in My Campaign to
make sure we know who is volunteering and who is flaking on us.
Organizer Mayra: Oh I forgot to do my volunteer entries! I’m sorry Field Director Chris. I will make
sure to update this information right after this meeting.
Field Director Chris: Great! Now let’s review your progress to today’s goal of recruiting 25% of your
volunteers for Election Day and 50% of your volunteer leadership for Election Day. According to My
Campaign you are only 10% of the way to your recruitment goals for Election Day. Is this accurate or
are you behind in My Campaign data entry?
Organizer Mayra: No, that is correct. I’m so focused on filling shifts for Early Vote that I often times
forget about asking volunteers to confirm for Election Day. I do have 100% of my Election Day
Leadership recruited.
Field Director Chris: That’s great news about your Election Day Leadership and I see them scheduled
for Election Day here in My Campaign. A week from now you have to have 50% of your volunteers for
Election Day – so how about this. Make sure that you ask each volunteer this week to either take off
Election Day or volunteer for 2 of the 4 shifts on Election Day. That should help you meet and exceed
your goals.
Organizer Mayra: That sounds like a good plan Field Director Chris. You’re the best.
Field Director Chris: Great. You’re the best too Organizer Mayra. Just don’t let Organizer Jude know I
told you so. (Laughs)
Narrator: Organizer Mayra now understands that she has to multi-task through Early Voting to prepare
for Election Day. Let’s take a listen in now to Field Director Chris’ one-on-one with Organizer Jude.
Field Director Chris: Hi Organizer Jude. How are you today?
Organizer Jude: I’m doing great Field Director Chris. I just recruited my final Phone Bank Captain for
Election Day. I’m very excited.
Field Director Chris: That’s great news Organizer Jude. I also noticed that you have exceeded today’s
goal of 25% of your Election Day volunteers scheduled in to My Campaign. Great work! I did want to
follow up with you about your staging location and phone lines for Election Day. Have you found a
place yet?
 New Organizing Institute 2010
5
Organizer Jude: Oh Field Director Chris, I’ve been so focused on recruiting volunteers for canvassing
this week, recruiting volunteers for Election Day, and recruiting leadership for Election Day that I
completely forgot about staging locations and phone lines.
Field Director Chris: I’m glad I can help to remind you. Are you using the GOTV Timeline and
Calendar to make sure you’re focused on our goals and what we need to accomplish?
Organizer Jude: I seem to have misplaced my calendar; do you have another copy available?
Field Director Chris: I just so happen to have an extra hundred copies of the calendar. Here, take two –
and tape one above your desk here at the office and one somewhere at home so you can always be
reminded of what we need to accomplish!
Organizer Jude: Field Director Chris, you’re the best. Thanks so much! I’ll work on recruiting a
staging location right after this meeting.
Field Director Chris: Great. You’re the best too Organizer Jude, just don’t let Organizer Mayra know I
told you so. (Laughs)
Narrator: Pop quiz for the viewing audience! What’s the best way to track and manage your volunteers
for early voting and Election Day? And, what should every organizer have a copy of to stay focused and
multi-task effectively?
Scene 4: Dry Run #1
Narrator: It’s two weeks before the Election and today is the first Dry Run of Organizer Jude and
Organizer Mayra’s Election Day plan. Let’s take a look at how things are going with Organizer Jude
and Team Lead Irene.
(Lights go dark)
Team Lead Irene: It’s kind of dark in here Organizer Jude. Would you please turn on the lights?
Organizer Jude: I flipped the switch Team Lead Irene, and nothing happened. I forgot to confirm with
the owners that the electricity would be turned on in this abandoned store front.
Team Lead Irene: I’ll make a call to the owner and see if he can contact the electric company before
next week’s Dry Run #2.
Organizer Jude: Thanks Team Lead Irene. You’re great.
(Lights back on)
Narrator: It’s a good thing this was just a dry run and not the real deal on Election Day. Let’s check in
now on Organizer Mayra and Team Lead Renee.
 New Organizing Institute 2010
6
(Organizer Mayra’s phone rings)
Organizer Mayra: Hi Team Lead Renee.
Team Lead Renee: Hi Organizer Mayra. I’m calling to report the number of canvassers for Shift 1.
Organizer Mayra: Okay, go ahead.
Team Lead Renee: 0 canvassers for Shift 1.
Organizer Mayra: What happened Team Lead Renee!?
Team Lead Renee: I’m not sure, no one showed up to the canvass launch location.
Organizer Mayra: Did you remember to make the reminder calls an hour before it was time to launch?
Team Lead Renee: No, that’s not on my schedule. It just says to call Organizer Mayra at 11:30 AM to
report the number of canvassers.
Organizer Mayra: Oh no! I need to check our Election Day schedule for accuracy. It’s a good thing
today is not Election Day, we would totally be unprepared.
Team Lead Renee: Yes, it’s a good thing we are practicing so we get this right on Election Day!
Organizer Mayra: Thanks Team Lead Renee. Please call the canvassers and let’s see if we can
reschedule them for Shift number 2.
Team Lead Renee: Will do Organizer Mayra! I’m glad we have next week to try this again! I’m sure
we will get much, much better!
Narrator: Pop quiz for the audience – What will happen if you don’t practice Election Day GOTV
before Election Day?
Scene 5: Election Day
Narrator: So Organizer Jude and Mayra have had their volunteer leadership meetings, volunteer GOTV
trainings, recruited volunteers and leadership for Election Day, and practiced Election Day GOTV two
times. Now, it’s time for the real deal. Let’s see a highly condensed and very quick version of Election
Day GOTV.
Narrator: It’s 5:00 AM.
Field Director Chris: I love Election Day. I’m here at the boiler room and it feels so good.
Narrator: It’s 5:15 AM
 New Organizing Institute 2010
7
Field Director Chris: Time for wake up calls! Good morning Organizer Jude. It’s time to rise and
shine.
Organizer Jude: Thanks Field Director Chris.
Field Director Chris: Good morning Organizer Mayra. It’s time to rise and shine.
Organizer Mayra: Thanks Field Director Chris.
Organizer Jude: Good morning Team Lead Irene. It’s time to rise and shine.
Team Lead Irene: Thanks Organizer Jude. See you in an hour at the office.
Organizer Mayra: Good morning Team Lead Renee. It’s time to rise and shine.
Team Lead Renee: Thanks Organizer Mayra. See you in an hour at the office.
Narrator: It’s 6:30 AM
Organizer Mayra: Good morning Field Director Chris. This is Mayra and I’m calling to report my
staging location is open and operational.
Organizer Jude: Good morning Field Director Chris. This is Jude and I’m calling to report my staging
location is open and operational.
Narrator: It’s 7:00 AM. The polls are open.
Narrator: So what just happened during this section?
Narrator: Now, it’s 8:00 AM
Team Lead Renee: Good morning volunteer Ernesto. I just wanted to remind you that we will start
canvassing is just one hour. Are you ready to Get Out The Vote?
Volunteer Ernesto: Yes I’m ready Canvass Captain Renee. I will see you in an hour.
Team Lead Irene: Good morning volunteer Christina. I just wanted to remind you that we will begin
our phone bank operation in 45 minutes. Are you ready to Get Out The Vote?
Volunteer Christina: Hi Team Lead Irene. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it until shift 2.
Team Lead Irene: Volunteer Christina, we really need you to fulfill your commitment to us today.
What is holding you back from showing up for your shift?
Volunteer Christina: My ride to the staging location cancelled on me and won’t be able to show until
later today.
 New Organizing Institute 2010
8
Team Lead Irene: Don’t worry Volunteer Christina. I can dispatch a driver from our rides to the polls
program to pick you up and bring you here. Will that work for you?
Volunteer Christina: Yes! That is great! Thank you Team Lead Irene.
Team Lead Irene: Thank you Christina. Look for Jesus, our rides to the poll driver, who will come pick
you up in 10 minutes.
Narrator: It’s 8:45 AM
Volunteer Christina enters Staging Location
Team Lead Irene: Good morning volunteer Christina! Please sign in and then we’ll train on phone
banking!
Volunteer Christina signs in and Team Lead Irene and volunteer Christina stand under the banner
“Phone Bankers”
Narrator: It’s 9:00 AM
Volunteer Ernesto enters Staging Location
Team Lead Renee: Good morning volunteer Ernesto! Please sign in and we’ll train on canvassing!
Volunteer Ernesto signs in and Team Lead Irene and volunteer Ernesto stand under the banner
“Canvassers”
Narrator: It’s 9:45 AM
Organizer Mayra: Good morning Field Director Chris. I’m calling to report the total number of phone
bank and canvass volunteers for Shift 1. We have 7 phone bankers and 10 canvassers.
Organizer Jude: Good morning Field Director Chris. I’m calling to report the total number of phone
bank and canvass volunteers for Shift 1. We have 10 phone bankers and 8 canvassers.
Narrator: It’s 11:00 AM
Team Lead Irene: Reminder calls to volunteers for Shift 2.
Team Lead Renee: Reminder calls to volunteers for Shift 2.
Narrator: It’s 11:45 AM
Team Lead Irene: Phone bank training Shift 2!
Narrator: It’s 12:15 PM
Team Lead Renee: Canvass training Shift 2!
 New Organizing Institute 2010
9
Narrator: It’s 1:00 PM
Team Lead Renee: Good afternoon Organizer Mayra. This is Canvass Captain Renee calling to report
the total number of knock attempts and contacts from Shift 1 and total number of canvassers for Shift 2.
Our total knock attempts are 243 and contacts are 100. We have 13 canvassers for Shift 2.
Team Lead Irene: Good afternoon Organizer Jude. This is Phone Bank Captain Irene calling to report
the total number of call attempts and contacts from Shift 1 and total number of callers for Shift 2. Our
total knock attempts are 300 and contacts are 140. We have 4 callers for Shift 2.
Organizer Jude: Thank you for reporting Team Lead Irene. You are supposed to have 8 callers for Shift
2 and we will not reach our GOTV goal without a full phone shift. How do you think we can meet this
goal?
Team Lead Irene: I will ask all volunteers, in fact, I will persuade, all volunteers from shift 1 to stay on
for shift 2. Let me call you back in 10 minutes.
Organizer Jude: Great. I will hear back from you in 10 minutes to check in on your progress.
Narrator: It’s 1:10 PM
Team Lead Irene: Good afternoon Organizer Jude. I want to report my new numbers for Shift 2. We
have 9 callers for Shift 2.
Organizer Jude: That’s great news Team Lead Irene! You exceeded your goals. Great job!
Narrator: [What did we learn] It’s 1:15 PM
Organizer Mayra: Good afternoon Field Director Chris. I’m calling to report the total number of
attempts and contacts from canvassing and phone banking shift 1 and the number of canvass and call
volunteers for Shift 2. We have 543 attempts and 240 contacts. We have 13 canvassers and 9 callers for
shift 2.
Field Director Chris: Thank you Organizer Mayra. We were supposed to have 20 canvassers for Shift
2. Please ask at least half of the callers to move to canvassing and call me back to report the status in 15
minutes.
Organizer Mayra: Okay Field Director Chris. I’ll make this happen.
Organizer Mayra calls phone bank lead
Organizer Mayra: Hi Phone Bank Captain Lydia. We need to move 5 callers to canvassing for shift 2.
Can you make this happen? Great!
Organizer Mayra: Hi Field Director Chris. I am reporting a new report for Shift 2. We have 18
canvassers and 4 callers for Shift 2.
 New Organizing Institute 2010
10
Field Director Chris: Very good Mayra. Thank you very much. I look forward to your report at 4:00
PM.
Narrator: This process continues for shift 2 and 3. For shift 4 it changes quite a bit. Let’s fast forward
and listen to the conversation after Organizer Mayra reports for Shift 3 to Field Director Chris.
Field Director Chris: Thank you for reporting Mayra. I’ve been tracking your data all day long and it
seems like you have nearly completed all of the turf for GOTV. Unfortunately, volunteers are flaking
like crazy in Organizer Jude’s territory, which includes our highest performing Hispanic precinct in the
entire county. Please redirect 10 of your volunteers to report to Organizer Jude’s staging location for
shift 4.
Organizer Mayra: Okay Field Director Chris. Let me make this happen.
Organizer Mayra: Good afternoon Canvass Captain Renee.
Team Lead Renee: Good afternoon Organizer Mayra.
Organizer Mayra: Organizer Jude has had a number of volunteers flake and Field Director Chris noticed
from our reports that all of our volunteers are showing up. That’s because you’re incredible Canvass
Captain Renee.
Team Lead Renee: Thank you Mayra. What can we do to help?
Organizer Mayra: Field Director Chris has asked us to send 10 of our Shift 4 volunteers over to
Organizer Jude’s staging location to help finish GOTV in our top Hispanic precinct. Can you make this
happen?
Team Lead Renee: You bet I can Organizer Mayra! Let me get to work!
Organizer Mayra: Great! Thank you Canvass Captain Renee!
Narrator: And so, based on the reporting throughout Election Day, Field Director Chris was able to shift
resources to make sure all important turf is covered on Election Day! Now the polls close, our voters
voted, and everyone cleans up the staging locations and celebrates!
(All participants celebrate!)
The End
 New Organizing Institute 2010
11