To move voters to action, a campaign must touch base with thousands of people, understand their needs, and convince them why their candidate represents the best choice. Political campaigns thrive on connection; multiple studies prove that phone calls get voters to the polls.
“Validating phone numbers significantly enhances your campaign’s success and credibility,” says JoAnn Fitzpatrick, COO of RealPhoneValidation. “Accurate phone data helps you reach the people you need to reach, reducing wasted resources on disconnected and invalid numbers. It improves voter engagement, supports accurate polling, and increases trustworthiness. Moreover, it helps prevent issues related to contacting unverified numbers, safeguarding your campaign’s reputation. When you use verified phone numbers, you achieve more efficient communication and a stronger, more credible campaign presence.”
Boosting efficiency in political campaigns
Time and resources are scarce in the world of political campaigns, where every dollar spent and every minute of a volunteer’s time needs to yield maximum impact. Verified phone numbers ensure a political campaign’s efforts are directed toward viable leads, translating into a better return on investment for the myriad costs of electoral campaigning, from staffing to technology.
“RealPhoneValidation’s use of real-time telecom data for phone number validation offers several key advantages for political campaigns,” notes Fitzpatrick. “Unlike traditional database lookups, this method ensures the most current and accurate information, allowing campaigns to reach valid and active phone numbers and maximize their outreach effectiveness.”
When verified phone numbers prevent campaign volunteers from dialing wrong numbers or reaching disconnected lines, the volunteer experience improves. Workers are more likely to stay motivated and involved when their efforts lead to meaningful conversations rather than dead ends, and enthusiastic volunteers lead to more robust and vibrant campaigns.
Verified phone numbers empower personalized engagement
Political campaigns are shifting away from broad, impersonal blasts of information and more toward targeted and personalized engagement strategies. This shift is grounded in a growing understanding that voters are more than just numbers; they are individuals with unique concerns, preferences, and motivations.
Accurate and current phone numbers facilitate this approach by enabling direct communication. The ability to reach out and call or text voters makes for a more intimate form of communication than the impersonal nature of mass emails or social media ads.
“Accurate phone numbers enable your political campaign to customize its messaging to various groups,” Fitzpatrick explains. “When you know you are reaching out to the right person, you can tailor your message to address their individual concerns, interests, or previous voting patterns, making each interaction more impactful. Personalized communication is key if you hope to win the hearts and minds of today’s voters.”
In addition to more personal communication, verified numbers enable volunteers and other campaign staff to communicate more quickly. They can answer voter queries, provide assistance with voter registration, and give polling location information, all of which fosters a helpful and positive image of the campaign.
According to Fitzpatrick, this direct and personal outreach has the power to overcome voter apathy. “It can even re-engage constituents who might otherwise sit out an election, convincing them that their voice matters,” she says.
How verified phone numbers enhance voter turnout
The ultimate aim of any political campaign is to win an election, which is inextricably linked to voter turnout. The strategic use of accurate and up-to-date phone numbers plays a pivotal role in getting voters to the polls.
“Higher contact rates translate into higher voter engagement,” remarks Fitzpatrick. “The more voters you reach, the greater your ability to motivate the electorate, communicate your message, and drive turnout. Your campaign can bolster all of its outreach programs, including phone banks, text messages, and field canvassing with the strategic use of verified numbers.”
During the campaign, targeted and timely SMS messages inform voters about the campaign’s positions on issues, upcoming events, or reminders about voting dates and polling locations. Automated voice messages are also effective for reaching a large audience, especially for important announcements or getting-out-the-vote efforts.
Campaigns can also conduct telephone surveys with verified phone numbers to gather data on voter sentiment, preferences, and possible shifts in the electoral landscape. This real-time data is critical in guiding pivotal campaign strategy adjustments.
Throughout a campaign, efficient communication with verified numbers mobilizes volunteers and improves turnout at campaign events. In addition, during fundraising efforts, tailored messages that resonate on a personal level improve the likelihood of contributions.
Finally, simple SMS reminders or calls about polling dates, times, and locations significantly increase the likelihood of voter participation. Intensive outreach in the days leading up to an election can influence a campaign by over 10 percentage points, and next to door-to-door canvasing, direct calls are the most effective get-out-the-vote tactic.
“In the competitive arena of political campaigning, every point of contact makes a significant difference,” concludes Fitzpatrick. “By employing phone number validation techniques, you respect your campaign workers’ time and build stronger connections with your electorate. Ultimately, in your outreach, access to accurate and up-to-date voter phone numbers is the cornerstone of personalization, efficiency, and mobilization efforts.”