Phone Banking Team
Phone banking is one of the most effective tools we have for winning elections, protecting democracy, and reaching voters who would otherwise be missed entirely. Direct human contact is still the strongest way to increase turnout, especially now, when people are overloaded with information.
Studies from the Analyst Institute and others consistently show that live phone calls increase voter turnout by 2–5 percentage points, and in close races that margin is decisive. Well-run phone banks also clean voter lists, identify supporters, connect people with resources, and help campaigns correct misinformation.
What Phone Bankers Do
- Persuasion calls – Talk with undecided voters about what’s at stake and answer questions.
- Voter ID & data cleanup – Mark wrong numbers, update records, find supporters, and help campaigns focus their outreach.
- GOTV (Get Out The Vote) – Remind supporters to vote, check that they have a plan, and help them locate polling places.
- Cure ballots – Contact voters whose ballots were rejected for fixable issues (missing signature, mismatched ID, etc.). This is often the difference between losing and winning.
- Connect voters with help – Provide hotline numbers, early voting info, language assistance, and more.
- Patch callers through to their representatives – When an issue is urgent, help voters get directly connected to their elected officials so their voices are counted where it matters.
All calls are made through a browser-based dialer. No one sees your number, and you don’t need any special equipment.
Why These Calls Matter
- Campaigns rely on accurate data. Phone bankers fix thousands of records that would otherwise waste time and money.
- Phone banks can reach rural and neglected communities where canvassing is impossible or impractical.
- Many voters say they only voted because “someone called and reminded me.”
- Ballot curing can save hundreds of votes in a single district.
Every cycle, the districts we work on are decided by razor-thin margins. A few hundred conversations can decide a House seat.
Getting Over the Initial Discomfort
Most people feel nervous before their first phone bank. That’s normal. The good news is that you’re not improvising: you’ll be using a short script, you’ll be on mute when you’re not talking, and you can always ask for help.
- We train you before you make any calls.
- You can listen in first and start when you’re ready.
- You can take breaks as needed.
- We debrief together so you’re never on your own with a difficult call.
With a little practice, people usually find the calls surprisingly grounded: simple conversations with ordinary voters who appreciate the contact.