You’ve made it this far! If you’re a veteran who has decided to run for office, all of your hard work of putting in your candidacy application, crafting a great story and message that resonates, and rallying support around your platform is about to come to a head. It’s time to rock the vote. 

But this presents a whole challenge of its own. Once it’s time to cast votes, the battle is over and all candidates can do is wait anxiously, right? Wrong! The campaign trail shouldn’t end on election day. A candidate and his or her supporters should keep up the pressure and the promotion all the way through the end. This not only shows fierce dedication to a cause, but it also shows that the candidate is ready to fight for what they believe in.

What are some ways candidates can rock the vote and encourage voters to come out and make a difference in their communities? The idea of “rock the vote” or “get out the vote” stems from the need to increase voter turnout in communities nationwide. This is accomplished in several ways, but one of the most important jobs a candidate has is putting out a message and a platform that inspires voters. 

Voter turnout in the U.S. is statistically quite low, particularly for elections other than the presidential election (which still shows barely over 50% of the Voter Age Population). Recently, voter turnout has increased incrementally, notably in 2018, but this still presents an ongoing challenge for candidates who need the support in order to take office.
We’ve talked before about the importance of canvassing and getting out to talk to voters — this comes into play heavily when it comes to voter turnout. Remember: it’s your job to inspire them to go out and vote. Check your platform against this goal periodically to make sure your messaging is still ringing true.

How can incoming candidates best strike a balance between positioning themselves online as well as on the ground, offline? Learn how to connect with voters here.