Jobs

Canvasser

​Canvassers work for local governments, councils and political parties to help electoral teams conduct reviews of the local area and assist with registering voters and assessing public opinion. If you're interested in becoming a canvasser, knowing what the job entails can help you decide if this is the right career for you.

What does a canvasser do?

Knowing what a canvasser does can help you determine whether this is the right job for you. Here are some of the main responsibilities of a canvasser:

Visiting households

A canvasser's primary duty is to visit households. The organisation they work for often assigns them certain areas or lists of households to visit, distributing wider areas among a team of canvassers. The canvasser then visits each of the households to gather information or assist with voter registration.For instance, a local council may send registration forms to people who are eligible to vote. If some people don't return the forms, the council may send canvassers to their homes to find out why. If the individuals in question had trouble completing the form, the canvasser can help them do so. Canvassers working for political parties may ask people about the party they intend to vote for. If they're undecided, canvassers may try to persuade them to choose the party they represent. They may also try to persuade people to go out and vote if they're considering staying home.

Collecting information

Another key task for canvassers is gathering information about the households and individuals they visit. The nature of this information depends on the canvasser's employer. For instance, a canvasser working for a local council generally confirms the names of registered voters who occupy the property and asks whether they require any assistance with voting.

A canvasser working for a political party enquires about who voters are likely to choose at an upcoming election, why they've made that decision or whether they're undecided.Related:Key data collection methods and when you should use them

Maintaining records

In addition to gathering information about their assigned households, canvassers might maintain records of their work. This can be useful for avoiding repeated tasks like sending another canvasser to visit the same household. Records may include details about which households the canvasser has visited, how recently the visits took place and whether the households require a follow-up visit.Some canvassers receive their pay depending on the number of properties they visit, making these records necessary for payroll purposes. In some cases, they might report on new properties in an area or properties that no longer exist.Related:What is records management? (Definition and benefits)

Contacting households by other means

It may not always be possible to interact directly with a household's inhabitants, as they may not be home at the time of the visit. When this occurs, canvassers might put a calling card through the door. The occupant can then call the canvasser, allowing the canvasser to complete their duties over the phone or arrange another visit at a convenient time. Canvassers may also call the occupants themselves if they have their phone number.Cold-calling people can be useful for canvassers who work for political parties, as it allows them to reach a larger number of potential voters than visiting in person. These calls involve many of the same interactions that an in-person visit might entail.Related:How to conduct a discovery call in 7 steps (with benefits)

Maintaining confidentiality

A key priority for canvassers is maintaining the confidentiality of those they visit. Their role involves asking the people they interact with to volunteer personal information. Making it clear that these details are confidential can reassure voters who might otherwise be reluctant to share information.Canvassers may also offer people the option to opt out of giving certain details to persuade them to provide useful information, such as who they intend to vote for in an upcoming election. Confidentiality extends to the paperwork or other records they keep, ensuring that they're secure and only contain details that voters are comfortable sharing.Related:What is the importance of confidentiality? (With examples)

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Skills for becoming a canvasser

There are usually no strict entry requirements for becoming a canvasser beyond being literate and numerate, but there are some qualities and skills that can be beneficial and help to distinguish you from other candidates for the job.

Here are some useful skills to develop if you want to be a canvasser:

Communication

The primary duty of a canvasser is to interact with members of the public. This mostly involves verbal communication, making it necessary for you to be able to convey and request information concisely and politely.Written communicationskills are also useful, especially for writing reports or communicating with people you weren't able to meet in person.Related:A guide to the communication process (written and verbal)

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Being able to maintain confidentiality and reassure people of their privacy are key attributes of an effective canvasser. This is because members of the public may be reluctant to share personal information, making it important that they trust the canvasser is going to respect their wishes. Respecting confidentiality and reassuring voters can make them more likely to share details with you.Related:How to describe experience in handling confidential information

Time management

A canvasser often receives a list of properties to visit. This usually entails a deadline, which is generally before the end of voting registration or the day of an election. Goodtime managementskills enable you to meet your quota of household visits in the allotted time. If you receive pay based on the number of households you visit, good time management can increase your earnings.Related:What is time management? (Importance and how to improve it)

Persistence

Visiting numerous households and interacting with people can be challenging, as it can involve a lot of local travel. If you work for a political party, persuading people to vote requires patience and persistence. These qualities help you maintain motivation and efficiency, even after visiting numerous households in quick succession.Related:80 motivational quotes to help you stay motivated at work

Literacy and numeracy

Being literate and numerate is one of the basic requirements of this role. Although canvassing roles don't usually have academic requirements, some employers may require you to have GCSEs in English and maths to demonstrate an adequate level of literacy and numeracy. GCSE equivalents like functional skills qualifications, may also be acceptable.