Omar Bennett
Helping with political campaigns in other states can be a rewarding way to get involved in politics and make a difference. There are many ways to support a campaign, from volunteering your time and skills to paying for public communications such as advertising. If you're interested in a more hands-on approach, consider taking a gap semester to work on a campaign full-time or look for field organizer or field manager roles. To increase your chances of landing a campaign role, tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight any political or campaign experience, and be flexible about the type of work you're willing to do.
How to help political campaigns in other states
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Volunteering | Individuals can volunteer their personal services to help candidates and committees. For example, a volunteer can take part in a voter drive or offer skills to a political committee. |
| Blogging and Emailing | Individuals can send unlimited emails on any political topic without disclosing their identity or whether their messages are authorized by any party or campaign committee. Uncompensated blogging is also exempt from regulation. |
| Paying for Public Communications | Individuals and groups can support or oppose a candidate by paying for public communications, including broadcast, cable, satellite communication, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising, mass mailing, or telephone banking to the general public. |
| Campaign Experience | When applying for campaign work, it is important to emphasize any political or campaign experience in your resume and cover letter. |
| Gap Semester | Taking a gap semester can be a way to get involved in campaign work at a higher level than might be possible during the academic year. |
| Networking | Campaign work provides an opportunity to network with individuals who could further a job search related to the public sphere, including on Capitol Hill or in the State House. |
| Training | Websites such as the Political & Leadership Resource Map offer resources and organizations, categorized by state, for individuals interested in running for office or working on campaigns. Organizations like re:power and VoteRunLead also offer trainings for individuals interested in campaign work. |
| Grassroots Activities | State and local party committees can engage in grassroots activities such as the preparation and distribution of campaign materials (e.g., pins, bumper stickers, brochures, posters) to support specific federal candidates, which are exempt from contribution limitations. |
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What You'll Learn
- Volunteering: Individuals can volunteer their time and skills to help political campaigns
- Fundraising: Support campaigns financially by donating or fundraising
- Communications: Help with public communications, such as advertising and messaging
- Grassroots Activities: Get involved with local party committees to create and distribute campaign materials
- Training: Organisations like VoteRunLead offer training for individuals interested in campaign work
Volunteering: Individuals can volunteer their time and skills to help political campaigns
Volunteering is a powerful way to get involved in a political campaign and support your preferred candidates. It is a way to contribute to the democratic process, help shape election outcomes, and develop valuable skills and networks. Campaigns rely on volunteers to maximize their reach, engage with the community, and champion their candidates.
There are many ways to volunteer your time and skills to a political campaign. Firstly, you can find an organization or campaign that interests you and ensure they accept volunteers. You can do this by searching online to see if they have a chapter near you or by contacting your candidate's local office to express your interest in volunteering. It is important to do some research on the candidates and the campaigns themselves to determine if volunteering for them will be a good use of your time.
Once you have found a campaign you want to support, there are various tasks you can perform as a volunteer. These include fundraising and outreach activities such as assembling and distributing promotional materials, canvassing, event preparation and support, making promotional phone calls, providing general office assistance, and more. If you have specific skills, be sure to let your supervisor know so they can find the right task for you. For example, if you are an attorney, you could write policy papers for the campaign. You can also volunteer your time by delivering yard signs to voters or expressing support for the campaign online through social media.
It is important to note that if you are volunteering during paid working hours, your employer may need to make a contribution to the campaign. However, if your volunteer activity is limited to "incidental use" of your employer's facilities, you may not need to reimburse the organization. Additionally, if you are volunteering as part of a corporation or labor organization, you can make use of their facilities for individual volunteer activities, as long as it is no more than one hour per week or four hours per month.
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Fundraising: Support campaigns financially by donating or fundraising
Financial support is a critical aspect of political campaigns, enabling candidates to cover various expenses, including travel, administration, and salaries. Individuals can provide financial support to campaigns in other states through donations or fundraising activities, which are subject to federal campaign finance laws and regulations. Here are some essential considerations regarding fundraising and donations:
Donations:
- Individuals can donate directly to a political campaign, with limits on the amount depending on the type of candidate and election. For example, donations to federal candidates are capped at $2,000, while contributions to state or local candidates are subject to state laws.
- Donations can also be made to political action committees (PACs) or Super PACs, which support specific candidates or causes. Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and organizations.
- It is important to note that donations should not be made in the name of the candidate's family members, as this is prohibited.
Fundraising:
- Individuals can engage in fundraising activities to support political campaigns. This can include organizing events, soliciting donations from others, or utilizing digital platforms for fundraising.
- When forming a group for fundraising activities, it is important to note that registering as a political committee may be required if the group's major purpose is federal campaign activity and it raises or spends more than $1,000 in a calendar year.
- Internet communications and advertising are powerful tools for fundraising. However, specific regulations apply when these activities are placed on another person's website or platform for a fee, as they may be considered "public communications" under the law.
- Federal funding programs, such as the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, provide an opportunity for eligible candidates to receive matching funds for individual contributions. Taxpayers can contribute to this fund by designating a portion of their taxes.
By understanding the regulations and opportunities for financial support, individuals can effectively contribute to political campaigns in other states through donations or fundraising activities, ensuring compliance with legal requirements while promoting their preferred candidates and causes.
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Communications: Help with public communications, such as advertising and messaging
Political campaigns rely on effective communication to reach and persuade voters. Here are some ways you can help with public communications, advertising, and messaging for a political campaign in another state:
Understanding the Legal Landscape
Before engaging in any public communications for a political campaign, it is essential to understand the relevant laws and regulations. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have specific rules governing campaign communications. For example, the FEC regulates coordinated communications, which are messages created in cooperation with or at the request of a candidate or their committee. These communications are subject to contribution limits and reporting requirements. Additionally, the FCC's Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) sets rules for campaign calls and texts, such as requiring prior consent for robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones. Familiarize yourself with these laws to ensure your efforts comply with legal standards.
Social Media and Digital Engagement
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch have revolutionized political communication. They provide an opportunity for direct engagement with voters and the ability to reach a wide audience. You can help the campaign by creating and sharing multimedia content, such as videos, that promote the candidate's message and platform. Additionally, social media platforms facilitate crowdfunding, allowing you to assist in raising funds for the campaign. However, be mindful that social media campaigns also carry risks, such as the potential for dissenting opinions to undermine the campaign's message.
Traditional Media and Advertising
Traditional media outlets, such as television, radio, and print, remain important tools for political campaigns. You can assist the campaign by creating and placing advertisements in these outlets. This may involve writing persuasive ad copy, designing eye-catching visuals, or negotiating rates and placement with media outlets. Remember that expenditures for these advertisements may be subject to contribution limits and reporting requirements, especially if they are coordinated with the campaign.
Email and Blogging
Email and blogging provide additional avenues for reaching voters. Individuals can send unlimited emails on political topics without identifying whether their messages are authorized by the campaign. However, if you are sending emails on behalf of the campaign or a political committee, be mindful of any regulations that may apply. Similarly, uncompensated blogging is generally exempt from regulation, even if a nominal fee is received. Nevertheless, always ensure that your communications accurately represent the campaign's message and values.
Advance Work and Event Planning
Joining an advance team can be a great way to help with communications and event planning. Advance teams scout locations, arrange logistics, and help build an appropriate audience for the candidate's public appearances. This role often involves travel and is well-suited for individuals who exhibit independence, self-confidence, imagination, and good judgment.
By engaging in these communication activities, you can effectively support a political campaign in another state and help amplify their message to reach and persuade voters.
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Grassroots Activities: Get involved with local party committees to create and distribute campaign materials
Grassroots activities are a great way to get involved in political campaigns, especially if you're passionate about a particular cause or candidate. Here are some ways you can participate in grassroots activities and create and distribute campaign materials:
Get in touch with local party committees: Reach out to your local political party committees, which can be found through websites like the Political & Leadership Resource Map from Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics. These committees are often in need of volunteers and will be able to guide you on how to help with campaign materials.
Understand the rules and regulations: Familiarize yourself with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) guidelines on campaign materials. For example, certain activities, like preparing and distributing slate cards, are exempt from the definition of contribution and are not subject to contribution limits. However, if you use your organization's equipment or facilities to produce campaign materials, you may need to reimburse them.
Offer your skills: Think about what skills you can offer to the committee. For example, if you have design skills, you could help create visually appealing campaign materials like posters, brochures, and pins. If you have writing skills, you could assist in crafting effective messages for brochures, handbills, or even emails, which individuals may send unlimited emails on any political topic without identifying authorization.
Distribute the materials: Once the campaign materials are ready, help distribute them in your local area. This could involve going door-to-door, setting up booths at local events or popular areas, or even just wearing and using the campaign materials yourself, like putting a bumper sticker on your car or wearing a campaign button.
Engage with the community: When distributing materials, take the time to talk to people, answer any questions they may have, and address their concerns. This helps create a personal connection and can make your efforts more effective. Remember, always be respectful and follow any relevant laws and guidelines when engaging with the public.
By following these steps, you can effectively get involved with local party committees and contribute to creating and distributing campaign materials, allowing your voice and the voices of those in your community to be heard.
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Training: Organisations like VoteRunLead offer training for individuals interested in campaign work
Organisations like VoteRunLead offer training for individuals interested in campaign work. VoteRunLead is the largest and most diverse campaign and leadership program in the US. The organisation has trained over 33,000 women to run for office and win. The program is practical, actionable, nonpartisan, and individualized. It offers communications and fundraising training and hosts a network of women involved in politics and campaigns.
VoteRunLead's award-winning training is designed to encourage women to "RUN AS YOU ARE" and win. The program provides nearly 60 training resources on its website for its partners and alumnae. It also has a private Facebook group for its community of thousands of women.
The organisation's training is tailored to women with varying levels of political experience. It aims to empower women to achieve their political ambitions and be unapologetic about them. VoteRunLead's online tools provide access to campaign resources and live political experts.
To apply for a campaign job, individuals should prepare a resume and a succinct cover letter. The resume should emphasize any political or campaign experience and be tailored to the job, with campaign- or policy-related experiences highlighted. The cover letter should clearly state what the applicant wants to do on the campaign and how flexible they are willing to be.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to get involved in a political campaign in another state. You can start by looking for opportunities to volunteer your personal services, such as taking part in voter drives or offering your skills to the campaign. You can also apply for campaign jobs, highlighting any relevant experience in your resume and cover letter. Additionally, consider taking a gap semester to focus on campaign work and build connections.
Yes, it's important to be aware of federal and state laws regarding campaign finance and contributions. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) sets limits on the sources and amounts of funds used in federal elections. State and local laws may also apply, so it's important to research the specific regulations in the state where you want to get involved.
Even if you can't be physically present in the state, there are still ways to make an impact. You can engage in grassroots activities such as preparing and distributing campaign materials (e.g. posters, stickers, brochures) or using digital tools like email, blogging, and social media to spread the campaign message. Just be mindful of any regulations around coordinated communications and disclaimer requirements.
