Preliminary Report 2012 Your Vision Your Vote

Disappointed People* cynical* don’t vote* hate politics* don’t pay attention

Disappointing Politics* $ and connections* personal loyalties* polarized, blameful* no accountability

1 . Gather voices2. Expand the vote3. Info for accountability

1. We engaged voters by asking what matters to them

Volunteers knocked on more than 1,800 doors in low-turnout areas of the Waianae Coast, Windward Oahu, Waimanalo, and lower Manoa and reached out friend-to-friend online to ask “What’s most important to you this election year?”

1. We engaged voters by asking what matters to them

Kaneohe Waianae

Manoa Kailua

We compiled the results and used them to draft candidate questionnaires that spoke to the priorities of residents.

2. We worked to register voters in areas with low turnout

We registered voters by making presentations in classrooms of college campuses (UH Manoa and Community Colleges), tabling at community events and outside supermarkets and farmers’ markets, and registering people at the door.

3. We put elections info into new, engaging formats

We put information on candidates and elections into new formats: simple candidate look-up tool; candidate guide in game format; issues and voter info as Infographics, shared this content friend-to-friend online and via social media.

Sadly, final data on who voted not be available from the Office of Elections until Feb 2013. For now, here is what we know…

• 1,860 doors knocked; 106 classroom presentations; 27 tabling venues

• 2,657 new voters registered, concentrated in low-turnout areas

• 3,223 people provided input on questions for candidates

• 20 volunteers reaching out online drove 2,100 visitors to candidate info

• 2,000 avg daily unique visits to the site during elections (up from 800)

• 26,000 total unique visitors to the site during elections period

…achieved with 40 volunteers, info in new formats and channels, and $15,000 for printing, supplies, food for volunteers.

- compared to -

…average campaign for State House District with turnout of 7,000 voters is $30-$40,000.

Results: Engagement by the numbers

“I've been seeing the effects of Kanu's work all over the state and on Social Media. I will be doing a presentation at my alma mater to high school juniors and seniors about the importance of voting, and my experiences this past year. I want to be able to provide the student with opportunities to get involved during the next election cycle in 2014. Are there any ways students can begin to be prepared for the next election cycle through Kanu?”

- Tony H, Waianae (UH Manoa Sophomore)

“This candidate info was very informative as I had no idea what the candidate's opinions were or even what their names were. The questions were broad enough to understand where each person came from. I "found" my candidate. I posted the entry site of Kanu on facebook. Good job, just want to give you feed back.”

- Gina H, Honolulu

“For the first time in recent memory I voted outside of my political party. After playing the game and reading the answers, I just could not bring myself to vote for the candidate [in my Party].”

- Former State Representative

“Just wanted to say -OUTSTANDING election coverage on the Kanu site! Thank you . I'm working through the entire election with my boys ( aged 7 and 9) and they LOVE the candidate game...me too! What a great model for ordinary people to use and make important decisions. It already made me change one of my votes! I absolutely will email it - to more than 5 friends. “

- Jo M, Kailua

The most important outcome: practicing leadershippractice engaging our community and campaigning independent of money

2012 2013 2014

* Gather community input to identify key issues/questions

* Engage, register, and inform critical mass of voters

* Bring under-represented voices into electorate

* Get candidates/politicians to listen

* Practice canvassing, data collection and management

* Practice presenting to groups of people

* Practice engaging diverse peoples in different settings

* Get to know our communities intimately

* Learn how to maintain community relationships

* Engage people in targeted grassroots advocacy

* Pass a few key pieces of legislation

* Report back post-session on leaders’ performance

* Practice mobilizing others to push for policy change

* Practice communicating to a mass audience online

* Learn about policy issues and analysis

* Practice “grassroots lobbying”

+ A base of engaged people who know the issues and engage their leaders

+ Proactive citizens who set the agenda in conversation with their leaders

+ Leaders equipped to lead in a political or community context (e.g., may run for office, advocate on issues, or help campaigns)

+ Leaders who are adept at listening and leading in any context

Practice listening Practice leading Being the leaders we hope for

Citizenship Development

Leadership Development

2013 – use the tools and experience of the election…

• Follow a handful of issues in 2013 Legislature (Jan-Apr)

• Educate communities about those issues

• Encourage constituents to engage their elected leaders

• Track leaders’ post-election performance and report back for accountability

2014 – volunteers run for office or manage campaigns in a new way…

• increase citizen participation

• less dependent on $ for campaigns

• maintain civil and respectful politics - listen and lead

The work ahead: being the leaders we wish to seepractice leading with minimum use of $$$ and maximum citizen participation