How to Create a Political Walklist

Decide what the list is for

A persuasion list, supporter-identification list, sign-request follow-up list, and GOTV list are not the same thing. Start by writing the purpose in one sentence. That decision controls who belongs on the list, what the canvasser asks, and which outcomes matter.

Do not include every available field simply because the database has it. The walklist should show the minimum information needed to complete the task safely and accurately.

Build the voter universe

Apply the campaign’s approved filters before creating routes. That may include geography, support status, contact history, voting status, phone availability, age or other lawful fields, and exclusions such as do-not-contact or already-voted records. The exact universe depends on the campaign phase.

Review edge cases. Apartment addresses, rural routes, duplicate records, missing unit numbers, and voters who recently moved can turn a clean spreadsheet into a poor field experience.

Create routes a person can actually walk

Group nearby addresses and keep natural barriers in mind. A map that looks compact may still cross a highway, river, gated property, or steep hill. Routes should begin and end in places the shift lead can explain clearly.

Size the list for the planned shift. It is better to finish a smaller list and report complete information than to distribute an oversized route that returns half done with no clear stopping point.

Household the display, preserve the individual record

Canvassers approach a door once, but the campaign may need a separate result for each voter. Present the address as a household and list each eligible person underneath. This reduces repeated knocking without losing individual identification data.

Include apartment or unit information prominently. A list that hides the unit number in a note field will create errors in the hallway.

Use response codes that lead to action

• Support, possible, undecided, no support: identification outcomes where appropriate.
• Not home: no useful contact at the address.
• Moved or not at address: record-quality follow-up.
• Do not contact: suppress future campaign contact.
• Volunteer, sign, ride, or callback request: creates a separate follow-up task.
• Already voted: removes the voter from the active GOTV chase where applicable.

A practical example

A campaign wants to identify support in two suburban polls during a two-hour evening shift. It excludes already canvassed and do-not-contact records, households the list by address, divides the area at a major road, and creates four routes. Each route has a clear starting point and about the same number of households rather than the same number of voters.

Working checklist

• Write the purpose of the walklist.
• Apply the correct voter universe and exclusions.
• Review duplicates, unit numbers, rural addresses, and recent moves.
• Household voters while preserving individual outcomes.
• Create compact, understandable routes sized to the shift.
• Use a short response-code set and explain follow-up requests.
• Test the digital and printable versions.
• Assign list check-out, return, reconciliation, and secure disposal.

Common mistakes

• Starting with a map before deciding who should be contacted.
• Giving canvassers more personal data than the task requires.
• Splitting routes by equal record count while ignoring geography.
• Combining household members into one voter outcome.
• Sending lists out without a return and reconciliation owner.

Sources and further reading

• National Democratic Institute — Voter Contact
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada — Guidance for political parties on protecting personal information
• Bhatti et al. — Door-to-Door Canvassing Meta-study

Election law, privacy, calling rules, voting methods, and campaign-finance requirements vary by jurisdiction and can change. Verify current requirements with the applicable election authority before acting.