2016-08-18
Chilla Bulbeck
You have just completed the largest supporter engagement Greens WA campaign ever. We increased our lower house vote in 3 of the 4 inner metropolitan seats: 5.87% in Fremantle, 5.10% in Perth, 3.79% in Swan with a decline of -.6% in Curtin.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF THE CAMPAIGN
Some 270 volunteers completed the evaluation survey with Fremantle-Tangney respondents being the most likely to respond (20%) but drawing respondents from every campaign. Sixty per cent identify as female with women over-represented among team leaders and males predominating in campaign management roles (these statistics are derived from when volunteers joined the campaign).
Ask a busy person: Full-time workers were over-represented among those who joined the campaign early (in 2015) or late (the last week).
Almost half of the respondents only worked on a polling booth with writing letters to the newspaper being the least popular form of engagement:
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- 46% only did a prepolling/polling booth but 90% of respondents worked on a polling booth on election day
- 30% doorknocking;
- 30% handed out leaflets to the public (possibly through doorknocking);
- 23% telephone calling (voters or supporters);
- 18% had engaged in stalls or other community contact;
- 28% donated to the campaign;
- 23% engaged in social media;
- 14% volunteered in the campaign office;
- 6% engaged in data entry; and
- 3% wrote a letter to the newspaper.
A very rough assessment of volunteer hours suggests that 25,000 volunteer hours were dedicated to the campaign.
Volunteers overwhelmingly enjoyed their experience, 63% being very satisfied and less than 5% being more dissatisfied than satisfied. Only one person was very dissatisfied.
Respondents were most likely to be proud to be a Green, followed by felt they were part of the campaign or felt they made a difference and least likely to learn new skills (because many did what they had done before, staffing a polling booth) or feeling well informed about the direction of the campaign (see chart).
Some comments from respondents on their experience:
Some of us were talking among ourselves and a voter came out of the building complimenting us on our behavior saying "You people should be in parliament, you're not like those bickering, blithering bullies we see there." (Brand)
It will take a long time for the majors to lose power but if the Greens stick to well-researched, solutions-based long-term policy making, and continue to campaign and lobby with integrity I think we can really make a difference (F-T).
Getting to talk to people about things that matter to them - it was an honour to have people share their very personal and honest life experiences.
Speaking to an African lady during a doorknock and hearing firsthand how some of our policies are really what a real person and her family need! (Curtin)
WILLIAM STREET TEAM: CAMPAIGN CENTRAL
Respondents were very impressed with the professional hard work done by the William Street team, led by Andrew Beaton, Campaign Manager, and Sophie Greer, Field Director, but including a number of other staff, such as Elliot Sawers, Booth Co-ordinator, (several noting the cake he brought every day) supported by Giz Watson, Annabelle Newbury, Jo Vallentine and Graham Ludlam; Jordon Steele-john, Volunteer Engagement Officer and his team; Sarah George, pioneering the new role of Outreach Co-ordinator; the IT team led by Peter Condon, and including Steven, Anthony Blond, Grahame Bowland and other regular IT support staff; and the office staff led by the ever cheerful and efficient Rowena Skinner, Office Manager.
Andrew Beaton and Sophie Greer: As a volunteer l felt that I was part of a dynamic and effective movement where my actions made a difference. As an employee I felt both fully supported to carry out my role and appropriately empowered to adapt it when the need arose. In my 6 years of involvement in the Greens, I have never been part of a more effective and enjoyable campaign. While this was undoubtedly the result of a team effort, I feel strongly that it simply would not have been possible without them.
Respondents appreciated the activities co-ordinated by the William Street team, particularly The Campaign Hothouse (training); after party and the Block party (social events); a chance to meet Richard di Natale, particularly in farflung places like Broome; the well organised actions in Forrest Place and Days of Action (volunteer mobilisation and voter engagement); presentation of our vision at the WA2.0 events.
POLLING BOOTHS
There were the usual concerns from old hands that knowledge about the particularities of polling booths (e.g. large number of statewides, entrance used for polling booth) was not captured and acted upon. I have recommended making a space for this information in Rocket, the volunteer contact and booth allocation system, which most users found really helpful and user-friendly.
For those on the ground, involvement in the polling booth was generally positive:
Taking part in volunteering for the Greens on Polling Day was heart warming, inspiring and fun. I felt like I was doing something worthwhile and important. I loved meeting so many people and seeing all walks of life right there outside the polling station. I felt connected to my immediate community and was reminded why I chose to live where I do and why I'm committed to the Greens and their vision for WA, Australia and the wider world. (Perth)
Some children walked by with their parents, looked at the Greens posters and said, 'Look Mum and Dad, theres the good people (most memorable moment).
Handing out the how to vote cards was surprisingly fun, mostly because I enjoyed talking to the other volunteers (Greens, Labor, and Liberal). … I was a tad worried about some voters being abusive, but I only encountered 2 voters who were a bit rude. I am keen to get involved with more Greens stuff in future and I intend to become a Greens member. (Brand)
However, due to the lack of capacity to reallocate polling booth volunteers to areas of need, and the resistance of many volunteers to serve outside their local booth, there were again problems with staffing booths, particularly where Greens supporters are thin on the ground:
Did most of the day ALONE. … I was so exhausted I wasn't able to attend the election party. I was so angry when I heard that there were scores of Greens people at Highgate when I had NO SUPPORT WHERE I WAS. I will never hand out how to votes again. (Perth)
FIELD CAMPAIGN
Through doorknocking and organising booths, Ben Hermann doubled the vote from 4.5% in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Doorknocking increased the vote in Perth, Fremantle and Swan and held the vote in Curtin. Exit polling reveals that 40% of people contacted by phone by the Greens received a positive impression from the contact. Doorknockers and telephone bankers enjoyed their experience:
Conversations with people during doorknock - surprised how many people interested to discuss issues and/or interested in getting more information, and appreciative of being offered information (most memorable moment).
I think that it's a great strategy as some people really like to have a f2f conversation. Especially young people who were eager to learn more about the Greens and the voting system. (Swan)
Met fantastic Greens members who mentored and encouraged me. I then became a neighbourhood coordinator. It was a fantastic experience and I'm ready to do it all again for the state election. Bring it on! (Curtin)
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Some other recommendations included:
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- Digest of communications, particularly to channel email flood in last fortnight
- More policy information, brochures and scripts, for field campaign voter contact and in booth kits
- More training and mentoring support for volunteers, particularly in leadership roles
- 'Community campaigning before state election ramp up: local doorknocking teams, community events co-ordinated with cognate interest groups, phone calling from home, support in using our social media networks to share Greens message with friends.
Photos: Header – The phonebanking team at The Greens Office, 22nd June: Shane McMullan, Conor Barton, Anna Maxted, Stef Hayward, Joanna Joseph, Sophie Barclay, Lisa Thornton, Steve, Chilla Bulbeck; Greens for grandkids Alistair Leith