If you want to drum up votes, surely canvassing is the way?

[drbonnieblossman]

I don't know a huge amount re politics, I'm first to admit, though I have been trying to educate myself.

I live in a lib dem area, though all those surrounding are conservative. We've had no canvassing at all, other than a couple of lib dem flyers through the door there's been nothing.

I was, as someone who really isn't yet 100% sure how I'm voting, hoping that is have some canvassing at my door.

That said, Boris came to a localish town the other day to hold babies and eat farmers market cheese, but really, that's not enough!

There must be a lot like me, undecided, so why are the reps from the parties missing a trick? Or is it because it's not worth it where I live as it's assumed lib dems will stay?

I live in a key marginal. We met the Labour candidate last autumn when she was going door to door introducing herself. Pleasant woman, don't know too much about her. Since then, nothing. I am longing to be canvassed by UKIP but nothing yet.

We get leaflets through the door. But in the 5 years I have been here no one person has knocked etc. I could go meet the mo at one if his coffee mornings.

The funniest one is the ukip candidate. He was stood near our house for a while a few weeks ago, I saw him and wondered what he was doing. I had to go out, when I came back he had put a ukip leaflet through the door. He comes around once every 2 weeks and if you watch him, he only puts leaflets through doors where people aren't in. Very odd.

I would love to have a chat with him. But the. I like chatting to the JW who knock and leave their newsletter. Really lovely people.

mp not the mo, wish we could meet more candidates though.

I hate all the leaflets through the door and would never discuss politics on my doorstep. I am perfectly capable from gathering information and making a decision on my own. I much prefer the idea of a coffee morning with the candidates.

Are you in Twickenham OP? If so, generally no canvassing as Vince has had it in the bag for about 9-10 years. Of course, complacency shouldn't take over though.

The only person canvassing round here is the sitting MP, he must cover miles every week!
We've so far had loads of leaflets from UKIP, a couple from the Tories and not a sausage from the LD's.
It's been noticed locally as well - the MP has a fight on his hands against UKIP this time and there is a huge sense of disappointment that he's the only one showing his face to the people.

I've had two people knock at the door, Tories and lib Dems. I had been quite looking forward to them coming as I thought they'd be able to answer questions and would do something to show that they actually give a shit about my vote. But they didn't, they both just asked me if I was likely to vote for their candidates, and when I said I was undecided it was given a leaflet with an email address on it for any questions I might have. It seemed a total waste of time for me, and instead of encouraging me to vote for them, it's done the opposite.

I work in a different constituency to where I live and have had SNP and Labour canvassing in my workplace, both very pleasant men who took time to chat to everyone, answer questions and were friendly. It's a safe Conservative seat but I don't doubt for a second that they have gained extra support by doing this.

I have had nothing other than leaflets through the door, which is a bit disappointing.

We've had nothing except Conservative leaflets (rural village). I saw the UKIP team in the nearest town centre but not a sniff of any of the other parties.

I don't think I've bren camvassed since the last century.

I excitedly opened the door last Saturday morning expecting to have an impromptu political debate on my doorstep, but no it was some Jehovah Witnesses. Nothing against them but I wanted to discuss the election and I didn't think they'd be up for that.

I did some canvassing years ago and must admit it was soul destroying - not helped by the fact that I was a very middle class student from the South sent round to canvass for Labour in a tough, Northern working class district on the night of a football cup final. .

I do deliver leaflets now, but must admit I don't door knock.

Do you have a hustings evening near you? We had one in our constituency with the opportunity to meet all the candidates except UKIP who didn't show up and it was very interesting.

We're a huge Tory majority here with the Lib Dems as the nearest competition. The seat was Lib Dem years ago. The Lib Dem candidate has knocked to introduce himself which I respected. Loads of leaflets from everyone except Labour but no actual people - which is a shame as I'd love to engage the UKIP candidate in, erm, debate.

I have been out canvassing during the past six months; Saturdays, weekday mornings and evenings and the number of people I make contact with is very small.
People leave their houses! I bet you do too.
There are numbers and websites on all the leaflets; make contact that way if you have comments to make.
Incidentally, no-one has canvassed me either.

I have also been canvassing hard but, not matter what time of day / evening / weekend we go and knock on doors, most people will always be out. That means people think we haven't been.

The leaflets and web sites all have contact numbers and email addresses. Most candidates will be happy to call you if you ask them to, honestly.

I stood for Parliament 10 years ago and am fully recovered now and loved it when real voters who actually wanted to talk contacted me as it's relentless going out and trying to find them!

The only people we've seen are UKIP when they came into our local village pub.
Needless to say they didn't stay long!

canvassing is generally about identifying your supporters and making sure they don't need a postal vote or transport to the polling station. It's not usually about trying to convince waverers.

We've had absolutely nothing! We do live in one of the most safe Conservative seats in the country though so I guess everyone is saving their campaign money!

So jealous of anyone who's been visited by UKIP! I want to ask if they're standing for the constituency of Bongo Bongo Land and impress with my mustard finding skills!

I have just moved to a rural village and dont have a clue who our candidates are. I have had no one knock at my door, and I am at home all day, and have only had one tory leaflet through the door.

It seems to me that no one is bothered about my vote .

Ah, you see, ptolemysneedle, I do canvass occasionally, but 'undecided' is often code for 'I'm not voting for you but I don't want to argue about it' so I just offer a leaflet and back away.
If you said, 'I'm undecided, but why should I vote for your party?' I might have more of a conversation or run away and get someone competent

And if there's a particular issue that will decide your vote, local or national, that's the time to share it because it will all get back to the PPC or councillors.

And agree with overtired, I had a stinking cold and couldn't go out this weekend, but the canvass cards returned to me were 90% 'not home'. It's like people have better things to do than sit at home waiting for us to knock!

I dislike canvassing.. For politics, for charities, for insulation schemes.. If you knock on my door without a parcel in your hand that I have ordered, I'm not best pleased.
Normally I would avoid the door, but on occasion they catch me out ha..

I initially hide my dislike for canvassers through a swift but polite conversation aimed at closing them down. Most recognise that it's a waste of their time & move on, the pushy ones get a door in their face..
So many labour canvassers this time.. Shed loads of leaflets from Tory, Labour & UKIP