Collecting pledges across standard DVC tactics
Vote tripling is a two part tactic that increases voter turnout by scaling relational contacts.
First, ask supporters to pledge to remind 3 friends to vote, making note of who they will remind.
Then, send them a timely reminder of that pledge before Election Day.
Ultimately, vote tripling helps you get more from what you’re already doing.
Incorporating vote tripling pledge collection into your organizing program
Vote tripling pledges can be collected across most voter contact methods, including texting, phonebanking, canvassing, and high traffic activities. While roughly 20% - 40% of supporters will pledge to remind 3 friends to vote, the number of pledges collected through a campaign, and thus the number of votes generated, will depend on how pledges are collected. Pledgers are voters who are unlikely to volunteer, but will take a simple action to help mobilize their network, garnering you more relational contacts from each interaction.
While vote tripling can be conducted through any method, two of the highest pledge generating opportunities are:
Standard sms campaigns, where vote tripling is the first ask to supporters
Early voter vote tripling, where the ask is made to supporters who have already cast their ballots, with a reminder to follow right before election day
Ultimately, consider any opportunity to make the vote tripling ask to supporters an opportunity to gain relational contacts.
Vote tripling and DVC scripts
Vote tripling pledge collection is a turnout tactic. It can be added to your scripts at the end, typically after the volunteer ask, but only after ID’ing support.
Example of potential audiences
Volunteer recruitment lists, hot leads
Strong support + volunteer no’s
Flakes, no shows, reshifts
Early voters (after they have already cast their ballot, research paper upcoming on efficacy of vote tripling with this audience)
Vote by mail voters
Sending pledge reminders
Reminding vote tripling pledgers of their pledge is the best way to get them to follow through and remind their friends and family to vote. Plan to send at least one round of reminders to your vote tripling universe the Monday before Election Day, ideally via sms.
More guidance, best practices and scripts on reminders can be found here.
You can read more about the impact of relational reminders here.
Data management
Vote tripling pledge collection can be conducted via many popular platforms. Regardless of how pledges are collected, it is imperative to ensure they are recorded accurately in your data platform.
All pledge collection will require 3 pieces of data:
A response to the pledge ask
The names, nicknames, or titles of the friends the pledger will remind to vote. If the pledger does not share names, this can be left blank, and they will receive a generic “remind your 3 friends to vote” reminder.
The voter’s cell phone number in order to send the reminders
Tips for storing pledge data in VAN
Use an activist code + notes section to store vote tripling pledge data in VAN.
Activist code: for ‘yes’s to vote tripling
Notes section: to house the names of friends that the pledger shares
We recommend the use of activist codes to track vote tripling ‘yes's' due to the ease of managing activist codes across committees, and because data management is easier with an activist code if voters are asked more than once (especially with different responses).
Finally, consider training phonebankers and canvassers to use a standardized format to notate friends’ names in the Notes section to support more streamlined data cleaning ahead of sending reminders. A standardized format can look like: #vt name, name, and name for example.
Setting pledge goals
Like any other tactic, setting goals for vote tripling pledge collection supports successful implementation. As a best practice, set goals for vote tripling pledges in line with your existing organizing goals. You can reference the goal setting tab here for recommended pledge rates based on specific tactics.
Materials
Vote tripling via texting
Standard sms script: includes recommended script language for when vote tripling is the first ask of the script, and when it’s a follow up ask.
Early voter vote tripling script: for use during early vote, to supporters who have already cast their ballots.
Vote tripling via phonebanking
Standard phonebank script: includes best practice language to ask pledgers for friends’ names to support volunteers who may feel uncomfortable with this ask, as well as data recording instructions for VAN.
Volunteer 1-pager: with best practices and tips.
Vote tripling via door to door canvassing
Standard canvassing script: includes best practice language to ask pledgers for friends’ names to support volunteers who may feel uncomfortable with this ask, as well as data recording instructions for VAN.
Guide to collecting pledges during canvassing: comprehensive canvass guide includes options for collecting pledges (via pledge cards, postcards, and virtual) as well as best practices and script.
Vote tripling via high traffic canvassing
Volunteer toolkit: includes script, best practices, and tips for volunteers.
Pledge card: standard, customizable vote tripling pledge card.
