A Summarised Guide On Election Campaign Management

by Purvi Dalvi Writer

Introduction:

An election campaign management is an organised effort which seeks out to influence the decision-making process within the specific groups. Running a successful political campaign is one of the most challenging and exhausting activities possible. While nothing can eliminate the stress of the countdown to Election Day, a proper organisation for the electoral process can avoid some unnecessary challenges.

Organisation structure:

In a modern election campaign management, the organisation will have a coherent structure of personnel in the same manner as any business does.

Campaign manager:

Successful election campaigns usually require a manager to coordinate the campaign’s operations. Apart from the candidate, the manager is the visible leader for the team. He has to command instructions and lead the team. The manager has to hire the personnel as well. He needs to assign the roles and responsibilities according to the capabilities of its employee.

Political consultants:

Political consultants are the advisors for the election campaign. They advise campaigns virtually on all of their activities, from research to field strategy. Consultants conduct candidate research, voter research, and opposition research for their clients. Political consultants are also responsible for reputation management if the project hinders.

Activists:

Activists are the original ‘foot-soldiers’ within the team. They are the true believers, loyal to the cause. The tasks include volunteering and taking part in activities such as canvassing door-to-door and making phone calls on behalf of the campaigns.

Techniques included in the election campaign management:

The election campaign team is a heavily resourced group of professionals. The purpose of the team is to communicate the message of the campaign, recruit volunteers, raise money and ultimately bring the win for the candidate.

Canvassing:

Canvassing is the systematic initiation of direct interaction with individuals. This method is one of the commonly used techniques during the election campaigns. Campaigners will knock use the door to door policy to engage in personalised contact with an individual. It is used by political parties to identify supporters, persuade the undecided, add voters to the voter's list through voter registration.

Media management:

Media is the link between the political candidate and the public. It is the responsibility of campaign manager to effectively use the power of media to send across the campaign message. The political campaign team can also use the press for reputation management of the candidate. Make sure you run stories that create a positive impact on the audience.

Campaign advertising:

Campaign advertising means the use of paid media (newspapers, radio, television, etc.) to influence the decisions made for and by groups. These ads are designed exclusively by political consultants and the campaign's staff.

Mass meetings and rallies:

A "political rally" is a gathering of people with similar political beliefs where the speakers eloquently express their ideologies and plans for the nation. It is one most effective method in the electoral process by the election campaign management team.