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Election Day at the door
Time and that hideous Mamdani approaches. I’ve written about pollsters before. Here’s more on campaign doorbell ringers since I am asked how to do this and some people really want to do it. The FYI is:
Takes nerve to walk up cold and ring a strange house’s doorbell. More doors open less. Poor neighborhoods, dangerous. Rich areas, security’s too tight. Difficult to canvass apartments at all.
It’s why women are employed. Less fear.
Interviewees say: “Worst neighborhoods we visit Saturdays because they’re busier, safer. Wealthy areas, it’s evenings when the husband’s home. Doormen bar us unless we’re expected, so phone for an appointment or leave a calling card. After checking our legitimacy the occupants sometimes see us.”
Besides low heels, what makes a pollster? “Friendliness. Nobody chatty who’ll have coffee with a lonely soul. A woman of intelligence who invites confidence.”
Rules: Be prepared. Material ready. Make positive not timid introduction. State where you’re from. Say it’s a neighborhood survey. No discussions on how long this takes. Go onward. If respondent doesn’t interrupt, read the first question immediately. Delay further questions on how long this takes until later.
Do not invite yourself into the house. Wait for respondent to do so. If not, do a whole interview standing up. Know your material. Turning pages to learn another question, not good. If respondent talks and talks, don’t waste time. Return to the subject with “I’ll ask about that later but right now my next question is . . .”
Do not be too businesslike. This survey is not of uniform interest to everyone. It’s respondent’s opinion. Handle “don’t know” graciously. Something like: “Many people haven’t made up their minds yet.”
Each interview to be inside the home. Not in street or park. Apartment house person can be outside if confirmed it’s where he/she lives.
Never express your opinion. Monitor your own facial expression or voice tone. If you fail to ask a certain question, write down “Forgot to ask.” Questions are carefully arranged sequentially.
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If an interviewee refuses interview, accept that graciously. Terminate. Move on. Never let respondent fill out your questionnaire. Interview only one person per household. Personally — yourself — conduct interview. Exclude anyone standing alongside. Anyone nearby interrupts, edge away soon as possible.
Average pollster age — 45 to 55. Female. None who need to keep from starvation. The person who interviewed me said: “It’s women who can toss their kids onto the mother-in-law for a few days and squeeze us between dental appointments or bridge clubs and don’t need a 52-week-a-year salary.”
Some ladies just aren’t cut out for ringing doorbells. Supervisors accompany trainees, but all agree if you’re chicken and hesitant before each closed door, then maybe you’re better off selling hankies. Takes nerve. Look at it this way, if you’re acclimated — great. If not, shove it. Just wriggle back inside and vote again for Bob Dole. A Republican. Gone now but he ran unsuccessfully for president three times.
AND the 11-year-old nobody who’s scratching to be mayor? I mean, please. What’s to be said about him that hasn’t already been mentioned. Truth is, I’m told he’s really a wonderful guy. With a load of charisma — among other things. I am absolutely assured that his skin doctor assures him, all that will clear up any day now.
And if he isn’t elected, the big question is, what’s to be said about him that hasn’t already been said about hazardous waste.
Oy. Only in New York, kids, only in New York.