Down–Ballot Winner:
The Definitive Guide to Local Campaigning
Part Four Overview: Chapters 1 - 11
ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND
When Election Day is tomorrow, the crucial next 24 to 36 hours means all hands on deck. In this Section you find out how to get the most out of crunch time.
Chapter 1, Election Day Activities
A summary of plans for the big day is offered as well a suggested activities calendar.
Chapter 2, Election Day Poll Watching and Re-Counts
Tips are given for achieving high visibility outside polling places without violating distance restrictions. Often voters arrive undecided in down-ballot races like yours. With a campaign presence outside, you take advantage of that last opportunity to sway them your way.
Examples of effective polling-place handouts are also offered, each with an image of a ballot with the candidate’s name and position highlighted. Permitted activities by poll workers, watchers, and others inside polling places is discussed as well as how to report illegal actions.
Chapter 3, Election Day Vote Tally
After polling places have closed is no time to sit back confident in the vote counting and wait for results. It is time to get busy making sure that all votes counted at polling places or at the county seat are tallied correctly. Learn how to go about monitoring Election Day counts and preparing for re-counts when initial tallies are close. As President Ronald Reagan said, “Trust but verify.”
Chapter 4, Candidate Speech
Prepare for three eventualities. While you may expect to win, you could be disappointed. Election night 2012 when Mitt Romney lost his bid for president stands as a prime example of over confidence and unpreparedness. Romney had no concession speech prepared.
“We went into the evening confident we had a good path to victory," said one senior adviser.
"I don't think there was one person who saw this coming."
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Jan Crawford, CBS News, November 8, 2012, 3:34 p.m. “Romney shell shocked by loss.” http://www.cbsnews.com
So compose three speeches for election evening: victory; defeat; too close to call. Make each one gracious. Have them ready at least a week before Election Day. Formats are included as guides. Then if you win, Election Day marks the beginning of your transition from candidate to community leader. If defeated, your diplomatic concession leaves the door open for a future run for office. When results come in too close to call, your graciousness demonstrates character strength. In each instance you command the high road thus ending your campaign on a high note.
Chapter 5, Election Night Party
An election night party not only gives a sense of closure to any political campaign, it provides you with a chance to give back to your volunteers, to recognize them for giving their time and talents. Regardless of outcome, it is volunteers and supporters who get the candidate to election night.
Tips are given on selecting a location, arranging layout so your victory speech is heard well by everyone, promoting the event so those you want to show up do, and making the most of the evening by napping beforehand.
Chapter 6, Election Night Press Releases
Formats that can be modified by the winning or losing candidate are provided. By sending a well-crafted statement, your message may be printed verbatim by your local weekly newspaper.
Chapter 7, Winding Down Your Campaign
Once Election Day has passed, campaigns no longer have reason to exist and must be disbanded. Learn how to do it and in what order. Collecting your yard signs; settling your campaign debts; sending thank-you notes; complying with campaign finance reporting; filing tax returns. Never fun, but the right thing to do. And when done correctly reflect well on you.
Chapter 8, You Won! – Now What?
If Election Day has you winning by a solid margin, you learn what to do between then and the day you take the oath of office. Topics covered include practicing humility, healing wounds, studying duties required of the governmental body you join and issues it faces, and complying with its open meetings laws. Becoming an effective office holder and why attending every meeting is as important as arriving prepared are also discussed.
Chapter 9, Your Re-election Campaign Starts Now
Not that long ago campaigns wrapped up soon after Election Day. Candidates seldom stayed in touch with voters or supporters. But with today’s digital tools, down-ballot candidates can lay the groundwork for re-election down the road by staying in touch with voters and supporters in the meantime.
Learn to keep your campaign Website, social media, and blog posts current while in office to stay in touch with supporters and the general public. Post a similar notice on Facebook and other social media. Let readers know that their input is essential to your achieving campaign goals. Maintain a posting schedule to keep your name in the public eye.
Stay active digitally while in office so that opinion leaders and voters see you as approachable and responsive. Over time your reputation as a popular incumbent grows, making you a formidable candidate in the next election.
Chapter 10, You Lost – Now What?
While you had hoped for a win on Election Day, even qualified candidates miss the mark sometimes. Learn what to do when a win evades you. Along with conducting a post-election review, you learn the worth of building a strong civic resume and staying in touch with your volunteers and contributors.
Chapter 11, Post-Election Review
A tutorial on conducting a post-election analysis to identify what worked and did not is offered. Those who win can be tempted to forego the task; those who lose may question opening campaign wounds. But if you sense even the slightest desire to run again, conduct a campaign review and invite leaders from your campaign to join you. You may look back in a couple of years and be glad you did.
Closing Thoughts
Read Down-Ballot Winner: The Definitive Guide to Local Campaigning, once and your future campaign starts to come into focus. Read it more than once, making notes this time, and your future campaign takes real shape. Apply what Down-Ballot Winner teaches, and you become a confident, skilled candidate, one who welcomes the hard work required with a nonstop commitment to Election Day and beyond.