75…74…73…

When this is posted on American Majority’s website there will be 59 days until the first day of early voting and 75 days until Election Day. In Texas, campaign signs have started to go up in places where candidates think potential voters will see them. Chances are, if you are working on a campaign or if you are candidate, yourself, you are frantically working to meet any voter who would cast their vote for you. This is the Christmas for political nerds. So here is what to do until November 2, 2010:

Keep Doing What You Are Doing

If, like I said earlier, you are meeting with potential voters and gaining their support, continue to do this. The easiest way to do this is to blockwalk houses in your district. I said why blockwalking is important in my previous blog, “Do I Have To?”. And you can check out some tips for quality and quantity blockwalking here and here. Most people stay undecided in elections up to the time they go and cast their ballot. That’s why it’s a good idea to have people outside of polling places during early vote and Election Day (but I will touch on that later). Politics is definitely a people thing, and you should be sure to act like it is. Although you can use signs and mailers, they will not be able to vote for you on Election Day.

What About Those Signs and Mailers?

Though I am sure your campaign is on a tight budget, if you have the ability to purchase yard signs, do it and be sure to place them out in your district. Signs (though we haven’t given them the right vote) are still important when it comes to building up your name recognition. Although it is important to pass out yard signs to your supporters, it is a good idea to place some near the polling places during early voting and especially the night before or the day of election. You can check out what one American Majority staff member had to say about yard signs here. Mailers, campaign ads, and other forms of media should also be used (if you have the resources). You have to introduce yourself to voters, either in person or through some other medium. Remember: If you have the choice to meet a voter in person or just send them a mailer, meet them in person. Whatever forms of media you use should complement meeting them in person and be a substitute when it is necessary.

It’s Election Day, What Do I Do?

Well here we are, it’s Election Day and you’re nervous. Hopefully, you have been meeting with voters for months now and have built up an impressive array of supporters. The night before or earlier this morning, you probably placed yard signs throughout the district (especially in polling places). You probably got up early this morning and have already voted (hopefully for yourself). Throughout the Election Day, you will make that final push to get your voters to the polls and then wait until all the polling places are closed and then you wait.   Hopefully you’re hard work on the campaign trail has put you in the position to feel very confident in the outcome… if you’re in an uphill battle you wait and hope.