A political campaign is an organized effort to elect individuals to public office or pass ballot initiatives. A competitive political campaign requires a large staff of paid and volunteer workers to identify, persuade, and organize voters. Messages are designed to influence inferences about what candidates will do in office if elected, and may focus on specific policy positions or personal characteristics. Political campaigns are often highly structured and managed, and if you intend to pursue a career in politics or policy after the campaign is over, working on a successful campaign can provide valuable experience.
A successful campaign starts with the right team. Consider consulting with alumni from your law school or college who are currently working on campaigns, and ask them if they can refer you to undergraduate partisan groups that might be interested in your help. A good rule of thumb is to get started in September or early November, so that your work won’t be lost in the election shuffle. You’ll also want to make sure you have a system in place to track all your meetings and potential leads (i.e. names, emails, phone numbers, etc) before they’re forgotten. The best way to do this is with a CRM software, but even just keeping notes in your notepad can be helpful. You’ll also need a website to collect donations and endorsements once you start talking with people, so you should setup a domain name and find a web designer who can do what you need for a reasonable price.