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Partisan Mobilization Using Volunteer Phone Banks and Door Hangers

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  • David W. Nickerson

    (University of Notre Dame)

Abstract

This article presents the results from a statewide partisan voter mobilization experiment in Michigan during the 2002 gubernatorial election. The tactics studied are volunteer phone calls and door hangers. With regard to turnout, the conclusion reached is that volunteer phone calls boost turnout by 3.2 percentage points and door hangers boost turnout by 1.2 percentage points. This effect size implies that both mobilization technologies are cost-competitive with door knocking and that partisan and nonpartisan campaigns are equally effective at increasing turnout. A postelection survey was used to determine whether the partisan blandishments to vote changed candidate preference. No evidence of persuasion from campaign contact was detected by the survey. However, the survey did indicate that the campaign failed in targeting likely Democratic voters and excluding likely Republican voters, emphasizing the need for detailed party databases.

Suggested Citation

  • David W. Nickerson, 2005. "Partisan Mobilization Using Volunteer Phone Banks and Door Hangers," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 601(1), pages 10-27, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:601:y:2005:i:1:p:10-27
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716205278200
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nickerson, David W., 2005. "Scalable Protocols Offer Efficient Design for Field Experiments," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(3), pages 233-252, July.
    2. Gerber, Alan S. & Green, Donald P., 2000. "The Effects of Canvassing, Telephone Calls, and Direct Mail on Voter Turnout: A Field Experiment," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 94(3), pages 653-663, September.
    3. Alan Gerber & Donald Green, 2000. "The effect of a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote drive: An experimental study of leafleting," Natural Field Experiments 00247, The Field Experiments Website.
    4. Alan Gerber & Donald Green, 2001. "Do phone calls increase voter turnout? A field experiment," Natural Field Experiments 00249, The Field Experiments Website.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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