Relational Organizing

Relational organizing is a proven and effective way to get out the vote! When community members engage in repeated and deep conversations with other members of their own community, research shows that voter turnout increases meaningfully and significantly.

Yet most political donations go to candidates, parties, and Political Action Committees (PACs) that use the funds to buy ads and to reach out to voters with a standard set of talking points that are intended to persuade voters to vote, or to vote in a particular way. All of these tactics have been shown to have a minimal effect on voter turnout.

Relational organizing uses relationships and local/community knowledge to educate voters and boost civic engagement and voter participation.  

Flip the Vote’s partner organizations:

  • Are led and staffed primarily by members of the community they serve.

  • Work in communities where people who vote tend to vote for Democrats, but many people who are eligible do not vote. 

  • Have multiple two-way conversations with the same potential voters, taking time to listen and respond to their concerns.  

  • Engage in educational and community-building activities in addition to political activities, building trust with potential voters and fostering civic engagement. 

Relational organizing also has longer-term benefits that are not captured by the traditional focus on short-term voter turnout. 

Relational organizing: 

  • Builds long-term community engagement and political power.

  • Cultivates community leaders who can go on to electoral office.

  • Helps hold elected officials accountable to their communities.