The GOTV Blitz and Canvassing: Where Science meets Art.

With just a few days left in the primary election cycle, door knocking has shifted into its final gear. And yes, it can feel like a bit of a rush. Did you know that’s intentional?

Get Out the Vote (GOTV) is a specific period within the election season focused entirely on one goal: getting voters to the polls. In Indiana, early voting begins 30 days before Election Day and that marks the official start of our GOTV Blitz. Anything before this period is not considered GOTV.

So why are we telling you this?

Because every year we hear the same questions:Could we have started earlier? Why does it feel rushed? Did you plan well? Is all this canvassing even legal?

Let’s walk through it.

We Can’t Start GOTV Earlier Than Early Voting

By definition, GOTV aligns with when people can actually vote. That’s why this phase begins with early voting—not before.

That said, this year we intentionally started promoting our schedule earlier so that our Precinct Committeepersons (PCs) understood the timeline and could decide whether the role—and the commitment—was the right fit for them.

Did We Plan Well? Absolutely.

And here’s how.

Big Goals Push Us All to Reach

For this GOTV cycle, we set a bold goal:

Knock 30,000 doors.

We knew it was ambitious. That was the point.

But this didn’t start overnight.

In Fall 2025, we began light, introductory canvassing. This served as a testing ground for our PCs—an opportunity to meet strong Democratic voters in their precincts in a low-pressure environment. Volunteers shared information about the county party, invited neighbors to meetings, connected people with city clubs, and encouraged them to follow along on social media.

What did we learn?

• Which PCs were truly interested in canvassing

• How to better prepare and distribute literature

• And most importantly: 30,000 doors is possible

Quick Note About Canvassing

There’s often confusion between canvassing and soliciting, so let’s clear that up.

Going door-to-door to talk with voters about elections is known as political canvassing. Courts have consistently held that this is protected free speech.

While HOAs and housing groups may restrict soliciting, political canvassing is not soliciting and is protected under the First Amendment.

Of course, free speech is not an excuse for misconduct. We expect our volunteers and candidates to conduct themselves with integrity at all times. We hold HamCo Dem volunteers to a high standard—and they consistently meet it.

So Why Not Just Focus on Social Media?

In recent years, we’ve learned just how controlled—and siloed—our individual algorithms are. While it might feel impactful (and let’s be honest, it feels good when people engage with your posts), the actual effect on voter turnout is minimal.

Genuine, face-to-face conversations at the door consistently show the greatest impact on turnout. Study after study confirms it.

We believe in science, research, and data—so we follow what works.

This Year Is Hyper-Local

AThe 2026 election cycle is especially local. Outside of congressional races, there are very few statewide contests on the ballot.

That means candidates are speaking directly to their communities—and here in Hamilton County, that means talking to our neighbors about the issues that matter most right here at home. And that

The Push to the Last 7,000 Doors

As a party, we have knocked on more than 23,000 doors during the primary, with not a single negative incident. We take great pride in our volunteers and precinct chairs, and in the meaningful conversations they’ve had with Democratic voters at the door.

Now, we’re pushing toward the final 7,000 doors.

Research shows that voter turnout increases by about 2–3% overall through canvassing, with the biggest impact coming from voters who are actually reached at their door. Neighbor-to-neighbor contact is the most powerful part of this work.

That’s the Science… But What About the Art?

The art is in the conversation.

It’s in the way neighbors connect, listen, and build trust.

Big Picture

Right now, we’re reminding our neighbors why it matters—not just to vote in the primary, but to choose the Democratic ballot.

But this isn’t just about today.

These conversations began in the fall. They’re continuing now. They’ll grow through the summer as candidates make their cases. And by October 2026, something powerful will happen:

Your neighbors will be excited to open the door.

Because they won’t just see a volunteer—they’ll see someone they know. Someone from their community. Someone like you.

One Door at a Time

We are building the blue wave in Hamilton County—one conversation, one door, one vote at a time.

Find out how you can build with us today.