History of Canvassing in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: August 21, 2024

Canvassing, including door knocking and phone banking, involves directly contacting individuals for various purposes like political campaigning, fundraising, and community awareness. Widely used in political campaigns, it helps identify supporters, sway undecided voters, and register new ones. Considered a core element of political campaigns' ground game, canvassing enables direct engagement with potential voters and constituents.

1925: Japan Bans Canvassing

Japan banned canvassing for votes in 1925 out of fear of leftist control, a restriction that has been challenged but remains in place today.

1927: Early Canvassing Studies Begin

Research into how well canvassing works started in 1927 with a study by Harold Foote Gosnell.

1999: Gerber and Green Revive Canvassing Research

In 1999, Gerber and Green published a study that showed canvassing could increase voter turnout, sparking renewed interest in this method.

2000: Al Gore's 2000 Campaign

In 2000, the Al Gore campaign made a big effort to talk to voters directly and it seemed to help them gain support on election day, even though the polls before the election showed them behind.

2008: Obama's 2008 and 2012 Campaigns

The Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012 were known for putting a lot of effort into talking to voters directly.

2012: Canvassing's Impact on the French Election

A 2018 study showed that door-to-door campaigning for François Hollande in the 2012 French presidential election helped him win even though it didn't increase voter turnout.

2012: Obama's 2008 and 2012 Campaigns

The Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012 were known for putting a lot of effort into talking to voters directly.

2018: Study Shows Lasting Effects of Canvassing

A study published in 2018 found that the door-to-door canvassing for François Hollande in the French presidential election of 2012 had a long-term effect on voters.

2020: Modern Studies Challenge Canvassing Effectiveness

Recent studies in 2020 suggest that phone calls and canvassing might not actually make a difference in how many people vote, even in areas where there are many undecided voters.