Re-canvass & re-calling voters

Discover how to reset a person's completion status so they can be recontacted

Often during a campaign, you'll want to connect with potential voters, volunteers, etc., more than once.

For example, you may run an initial door knocking exercise to build awareness for a candidate and to collect data about key topics. Later in the campaign you may want to run a persuasive canvass and then lastly a final GOTV effort – for a total of 3 contacts at the door. This guides explains how you can reset the status of a contact before hitting them again.

The role of tagging in FieldEdge

To keep track of what people in your nation have been contacted during while canvassing or phone banking, FieldEdge "special FE tags" to reflect the interaction. The tag includes if it was a walk or call and if they were completed (any status) or skipped.

As of late April, these interactions apply across all lists and in proximity walks. So if a person was completed during a canvass on one list, they will be completed on another list or while using Proximity Walk.

In order to re-canvass or re-call a person, their completion status will need to be reset by removing the special FieldEdge tags. You can do this either using a batch update to a list in NationBuilder or by using FieldEdge HQ' List Reset tool.

Want to know more detail about FieldEdge special tags? Read our guide here

Two Methods of Resetting a List

List Reset Tool via FieldEdge HQ

The FieldEdge HQ Reset Tool streamlines the process of re-canvassing or re-calling by providing an easy-to-use interface for resetting contact statuses in one place – with several options.

It allows you to reset a list with OLD FieldEdge special tags (applied prior to late April 2024). For people canvassing or calling during the April transition period, this List Reset Tool offers a way to only reset tags applied from past canvassing or call session – attempting restore the list to it's previous status. Open the List Reset tool in FieldEdge HQ or take our List Reset Tool tour.

Batch Update via NationBuilder

If you prefer to do all of your list management in NationBuilder, you can use NationBuilder's Batch Update List feature to remove the applicable tags: fe:walk Completed fe:walk Skipped fe:call Completed fe:call Skipped You'll need to batch update the list to remove the applicable tags

See our guide to Batch update a list in NationBuilder.

Why Method Should I Use?

If you started using FieldEdge after late April 2024

Either method will work

If you used FieldEdge prior to late April 2024

You will want to use FieldEdge HQ due to the potential number of different tags that may need to be removed*. You can also just remove older tags to avoid reseting a list that is already in use. For people canvassing or calling during the April transition period, this List Reset Tool offers a way to only reset tags applied from past canvassing or call session – attempting restore the list to it's previous status. *Contacts made prior to April 2024 had a dynamic tag applied which included the date or list ID so you could end up with many differen tags applied to a person. Post April 2024, there is a static tag applied.

Targeting Your Resets

Say you want to only reset people who were not home during when you knocked. To do so, create a filter in NationBuilder, add these people to the list and then reset the list using one of the methods above.