electioneering
Seeking voter support
Electioneering is actively campaigning to win votes in an election—canvassing neighborhoods, making speeches, distributing literature, and persuading voters.
The term often carries a slightly cynical edge, suggesting the calculated, sometimes manipulative side of political campaigns: The senator spent October electioneering in swing states.
Laws typically prohibit electioneering within a certain distance of polling places.
Organized effort toward goal
- ralliesGathers or recovers
- speechesFormal spoken presentations
- slogansCatchy promotional catchphrases
- endorsementsFormal declarations of support
debates · advertisements · billboards · posters · pamphlets · leaflets · brochures · stump
Directly between residences
- leafletingDistributing printed notices
- petitionFormal written appeal
- outreachProactive community assistance
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
grassroots · flyering · precinct · ward · constituency · meet-and-greet · get-out-the-vote · clipboard
Spread or defame
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- astroturfingDisguised sponsored advocacy
talking-points · spin · mudslinging · robocalls · push-polling · viral · memes
Raised platform for speakers
- crowdLarge public gathering
- signsDisplays conveying information
- bannersLarge displayed cloth signs
- chantsRepeated rhythmic phrases
supporters · megaphone · placards · rostrum · cheering · keynote · applause · arena
Systematic opinion gathering
- focus-groupsConsumer feedback assemblies
- redistrictingRedrawing electoral boundaries
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- messagingSending written digital communications
micro-targeting · battleground · demographics · war-room · talking-points · pivot
Power to affect others
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- lobbyistsPaid political persuaders
- pressureForce upon contact
- donationsGifts to organizations
coalition · legislation · pork-barrel · backroom · dealmaking · access · patronage · quid-pro-quo
Gifts to organizations
- donorOne who contributes freely
- bundlingGrouping items as one
- contributionSomething given to help
- financeProvide money for
coffers · fundraiser · big-money · solicitation · telethon · gala · kickback
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
endorsements · debates · advertisements · billboards · posters · pamphlets · leaflets · brochures · stump · platforms
door-to-door
Directly between residences
- leafletingDistributing printed notices
- petitionFormal written appeal
- outreachProactive community assistance
volunteer · grassroots · flyering · precinct · ward · constituency · meet-and-greet · get-out-the-vote · clipboard · doorbell
smear
Spread or defame
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
astroturfing · talking-points · spin · mudslinging · robocalls · push-polling · viral · memes
podium
Raised platform for speakers
chants · supporters · megaphone · placards · rostrum · cheering · keynote · applause · arena · bleachers
polling
Systematic opinion gathering
- focus-groupsConsumer feedback assemblies
- redistrictingRedrawing electoral boundaries
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
messaging · micro-targeting · battleground · demographics · war-room · talking-points · pivot
influence
Power to affect others
donations · coalition · legislation · pork-barrel · backroom · dealmaking · access · patronage · quid-pro-quo
donations
Gifts to organizations
- donorOne who contributes freely
- bundlingGrouping items as one
- contributionSomething given to help
finance · coffers · fundraiser · big-money · solicitation · telethon · gala · kickback
- electionsballot, ballots, voter registration, candidates, polls
- advocacypetition, advocating, protest sign, championing, picket sign
- campaign financedonations, donation, contributions, contribution, donors
- campaign jargonstump speech, talking points, sound bites, soundbite, soundbites
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, filibuster, campaigns, voter suppression
- politickingcampaigning, lobbying, canvassing, stumping, caucusing
electioneeringgoverning
Controlling with authority
ruling · governance · administration · administering · incumbency
electioneeringpolitical apathy
Indifference to governance
disengagement · nonparticipation · voter apathy · abstention · sitting out
elect, election, electoral, elections, elector, elective, electorate, electors, reelection