You can volunteer in any federal riding in Canada, even if it’s outside your province. If you want to support a specific candidate, simply volunteer in their riding. But if your goal is to support the party more broadly, choosing where to volunteer deserves some thought. Here are some ideas to help you decide:
Where You Live
Volunteering in your home riding is the most straightforward option. You’ll be close to the campaign office, making it easier to volunteer regularly. When you knock on doors or put up signs in your own neighborhood, you’ll feel more comfortable because you know the area and the people. From the campaign’s perspective, having local volunteers is a big advantage because you know the streets, shortcuts, and community dynamics.
Swing Ridings
Another option is to volunteer in a nearby swing riding, also known as a battleground riding. Campaign efforts are often said to influence around 10% of the vote, so focusing on a close race can make your time especially impactful. You can identify battleground ridings by checking previous election results or consulting projection sites like CBC’s election page or Canada 338.
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See How Competitive Each Riding Is
Visit the 338Canada Federal Projection website to check how competitive each riding is in the upcoming election. You can also view results from previous elections on the CBC’s election pages.
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Challenges in Identifying Swing Ridings
Identifying swing ridings isn’t always easy. Past results can be outdated, and most projection sites rely on national or regional polling data combined with demographic and historical trends. Rarely do they include riding-level polling, which means projections can lack local nuance.
Campaign teams usually have a sense of how they’re doing locally, but asking can be tricky. Every campaign wants to keep its volunteers, even those ahead by 20 points might hesitate to send people elsewhere. That said, some well-organized campaigns do send staff or volunteers to help in other ridings, especially when theirs is already secure or part of a coordinated effort.
Where Your Friends Live
You can also bring friends along and volunteer in their riding. Your friends may feel more comfortable canvassing in a neighborhood they know. Instead of volunteering alone, working as a team makes canvassing more enjoyable and can significantly increase your impact. If you’re comfortable travelling outside your own riding, bringing a friend who lives in the area can make your time even more valuable.
Where Your Language Skills Are Useful
If you speak a language other than English or French, volunteering in a riding where that language is widely spoken can increase your impact. In big cities, some ridings have high percentages of Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Tagalog, or Arabic speakers, among others. If you speak one of those languages, you can be especially helpful in canvassing or making phone calls in those communities.
Even if you’re not confident in English or French, focusing on a neighborhood where your language is common allows you to contribute meaningfully. For example, if you’re in Montreal and prefer English, you might consider volunteering in the city’s western neighborhoods where English is more widely spoken.
Volunteer Where You Share a Cultural Background
If your city has a large immigrant community from the same country you are from, volunteering in that area is a good idea. You may speak their language and understand their culture and way of thinking, which gives you a big advantage when you go door-knocking.
Volunteer for a Candidate You Trust
Although party rivalry is strong in Canadian elections, the main goal is to choose which candidate should get a seat in Ottawa. So, do some research about the candidates and talk with them. Volunteering for a candidate you truly want to support is a great choice.
Also, since you will work closely with the team, it’s important to consider the campaign staff too. Visit the campaign office or attend the opening event to meet the candidate and staff. Choose a campaign where you feel comfortable working with the people, as it will make the experience smoother and more rewarding.
Key Takeaways from This Topic
Can I volunteer in a riding outside my province?
Yes. You can volunteer in any federal riding in Canada, regardless of where you live. This lets you support a specific candidate or focus your efforts where they’re most needed.
Why volunteer in my home riding?
Volunteering where you live is convenient and effective. You’re familiar with the area, and campaigns benefit from local volunteers who know the community and geography.
What is a swing riding, and why volunteer there?
A swing riding is a competitive district where a small change in votes could affect the outcome. Volunteering in these ridings can have a bigger impact because the race is close.
How do I identify swing ridings?
You can use tools like the 338Canada projection site or CBC election results pages to find competitive ridings. Just keep in mind that projections may not fully reflect local dynamics.
Should I ask a campaign if they’re in a swing riding?
It can be tricky. Campaigns may not want to lose volunteers, even if they’re ahead. But some well-organized teams may reassign volunteers to help other close races.
Can I volunteer in a friend’s riding?
Yes. Volunteering with friends in their neighborhood can be more enjoyable and effective, especially if you’re working in an area they know well.
How can my language skills help?
If you speak a language other than English or French, you can make a big impact by volunteering in areas where that language is common. This helps connect with voters in their own language.
Is it okay to choose a riding to volunteer in based on my cultural background?
Yes. Volunteering in communities where you share a cultural background can help build trust with voters and make your outreach more effective.
Should I research the candidate before volunteering?
Yes. Volunteering for a candidate and campaign team you trust makes the experience more meaningful. Meeting them in person can help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.