Last minute political advice

Election Day is here. The vote is practically decided; the campaign is over, right? Wrong. If you’re slated to win, the campaign is never over; if you’re the underdog, there are still a few things you can do to improve your odds.

Never Give Up

If the campaign is close, the number one thing you can do to influence the outcome of the election in your favor is to run a strong get out the vote (GOTV) campaign. A successful GOTV push can add an additional 1-3% to your overall vote total, and in a close race, that could easily be the difference between a win and a loss.

Zero Hour

A frequently asked question is what should a candidate do on Election Day itself? Some campaign until the last vote is counted, while others play golf or stay out of the spotlight until the results come in. In an age where every vote counts, it is suggested that the candidate do everything possible to GOTV in their favor. Whether it be promoting on the radio or making appearances at the polls to encourage their volunteers and supporters, be sure to show that you’re confident and hopeful until the end.

Sure Winners

For those candidates that clearly have it in the bag, it is still vital to push your supporters to GOTV, and remind them it is still a race and their single vote counts. The danger in being a perceived winner is that your supporters could stay home assuming that it’ll be a wipeout, so there’s no need for their vote. If enough supporter have this frame of mind, the numbers could easily be skewed causing a loss or near loss for the previously assumed winner.

Underdogs

For those slated to lose, the number one thing to remember is to finish strong. Many of the most successful political candidates have lost two and three times before winning. Remember that the next campaign begins the day after the election. Take a few days off to rest up and then dust yourself off and start again. Look at your campaign and see what could have been changed and why your opponent had the upper hand. If you’re planning to run again, begin your fundraising, researching, planning and team building; learn from your mistakes and don’t make the same ones twice.