How to Join a Political Campaign

Political campaigns, whether they are for local, state, or federal offices, provide volunteer opportunities in a variety of capacities. Joining a political campaign is a good way to learn about the candidates and what they stand for and to help them get elected or re-elected.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Call your county courthouse and ask for the head of the local Democratic or Republican party. Once you have their phone numbers, call and ask how to contact the local campaign offices of the different candidates running for election or re-election, whether they are running for local, state, or federal offices.

2. Call, email, or write the nearest campaign headquarters for the candidate or political party you would like to volunteer for and ask for a calendar of events and a list of volunteer opportunities.

3. Ask the candidate's campaign office about which capacity you might best fill. Give them a list of your abilities and skills, such as verbal skills, that could be used to make phone calls, computer skills or writing skills.

4. Go online and do a search for candidates by name and the office for which they are running. You will find links for volunteer opportunities like participating in phone banks, setting up your own blog to offer information to others about the candidate and their political strategies and ideology or setting up a meet-up in your local community.

5. Check to see if there are any meet-ups in your area and sign up to attend. This is a good way to meet and get involved with other members of your community who are working to help get candidates elected at a grassroots level. Meet-ups are also a great way for you to discuss strategies, schedule volunteer events and keep up with what is going on.

6. Find out if there any rallys that will be taking place within your state or community and if there will be a bus or volunteers in vans or cars to take you or anyone else interested to the event.

Tips & Warnings

• Occasionally, volunteering to help with political campaigns can result in a paid position or an internship.
• Volunteers are needed at all levels to help get candidates elected, to register people to vote, to poll potential voters and to spread the political ideology of the various candidates.

[Biazza]

on 10/5/2008 I'm thinking about getting involved in politics. At this point, I'm not sure at what capacity.