Doorstep delivery - making your vote count

In 1997, it was “Worcester Woman”. In 1992, it was “Mondeo Man”. Andy Rickell has some suggestions about how, this time round we can start to make politicians care about “Disabled Voter” during the upcoming general election

The first thing you need to know is what the politician who pitches up on your doorstep knows about you.

They know if and when you voted in elections (but obviously not what you voted) - this information is available from the electoral registration department. They know if you have a postal vote. They know what you said to that party about your voting intention on previous occasions. And they will know how you respond to them when they call this election time.

Secondly, this knowledge affects what they think of you. If you vote regularly, they will be interested in getting your vote. If they know you don’t tend to vote, they will be less interested in who you are. So it makes sense to vote regularly (whoever you vote for).

If you have a postal vote, they will be even more interested in you, because they know that postal voters are more likely to vote than others. So having a postal vote, and using it, will increase your importance.

If you tell them you will definitely be voting for a particular party, whichever it is, they will become less interested in you. If you are definitely voting for them, they will thank you, but they will regard you as a vote in the bag, and want to concentrate on floating voters instead. If you are definitely not voting for them, you are a lost cause and they need to move on. So, even if you know already who you will be voting for, it is best to declare you are “undecided”. (This is not a lie as strictly you could change your mind before voting!)

Now, knowing that you are a definite voter who is “undecided”, they will want to stop on your doorstep to convince you. This is your chance to make your point about how life might be improved for you the “Disabled Voter”. They will listen and they will remember you because they spent some time talking to you.

After they have finished canvassing for the day they report back on their experiences to other party activists.

They will mention your concerns as a “Disabled Voter” who they might win if their party offers better policy. If other “Disabled Voters” are doing the same thing to other party activists across the country, they will realise there are a whole group of voters that could be won, if their policies are attractive to them.

Suddenly “Disabled Voter” ranks alongside “Worcester Woman” and “Mondeo Man” as someone they will target attractive policies at, not just at election time, but all the time they are in office.

On the doorstep become “Undecided Disabled Voter”. Make them work for our votes!