Advice for PCOs and volunteers seeking data and instructions

If you are a PCO (Precinct Committee Officer) or campaign volunteer, probably the best place to seek data and marching orders for the 2018 midterms is your local county or state party headquarters. If you are in Whatcom County, contact either:

• https://www.whatcomdemocrats.org  Whatcom Democrats
• http://www.whatcomgop.com  Whatcom Republicans

If you are not in Whatcom County, try to find your local party headquarters for your county. You could also visit the State Party sites:

• https://www.wa-democrats.org WA State Democrats
• https://wsrp.org WA State Republicans

This blog is an independent site with no party alliances. Although I worked with the Democratic Party for 2017, I have not been a member since November 2017. The data on this page is essentially non-partisan. If you are a candidate and/or data professional looking for data sources outside your party's data you can try some of the links I have posted here:

http://www.bellinghampoliticsandeconomics.com/2018/06/general-data-advise-for-candidates.html

Unless, you are a data professional, it is probably not a good idea to second guess your party's instructions.  If you wish to support your party during the election period, now is a probably good time to commit to that support, seek training, get to know your party, etc. This support usually includes: canvassing precincts, making donations, phone calling, stapling flyers, etc. It is not difficult work, but each party does it with different methodologies and data sources.

My personal advice to volunteers and campaign managers based on my previous experience is as follows:

[For Volunteers:]
Don't do any campaign work you don't feel comfortable with. Your parties have some responsibility to provide you with instructions, materials, training and technology  that you need to be productive.  However, please remember most party officials are volunteers just like yourself. Apply yourself with flexibility and initiative.

[For Party leaders:]
Try to free your volunteers  from the  "the internal politics" of the party itself. Make your volunteer assignments simple, straightforward and without litmus tests.  Remember that volunteers come in many shapes, sizes, and belief systems. Be clear and easy to understand with your instruction sets.

[The Vast "Purpality"]
There is evidence for both the United States and the state of WA that much of the potential vote is essentially independent and that many precinct residents are quite possibly some shade of purple rather than red or blue. Looking at the results for your precinct and county elections can help you visualize your local neighborhood's place in the blue to red spectrum of our vast "purpality".  I try to remember that the largest bloc of  voters in the United States for almost all non-presidential election years is not a particular race, gender, party or class. The largest bloc of voters in the United States for any election is almost always those who did not vote! Your job as a campaign volunteer is to convince others to vote for your candidate and perhaps your party. Civility, kindness, grace, and respect are your best tools to complete that mission. Patience and tolerance are your best tools to survive your mission.