Absentee Chase

Term from Political Campaigns industry explained for recruiters

Absentee Chase is a key campaign strategy where campaign staff track and follow up with voters who requested absentee or mail-in ballots to ensure they complete and return them. This process helps maximize voter turnout by ensuring requested ballots don't go unused. It's like a customer follow-up system, but for voters. Campaign teams use this method to remind voters about deadlines, offer assistance with ballot questions, and confirm when ballots have been returned. This practice has become increasingly important as more voters choose to vote by mail.

Examples in Resumes

Managed Absentee Chase program resulting in 85% ballot return rate

Coordinated team of 5 volunteers for Absentee Ballot Chase efforts

Developed database system to track Absentee Chase progress across 3 counties

Typical job title: "Absentee Chase Coordinators"

Also try searching for:

Voter Outreach Coordinator GOTV Coordinator Absentee Ballot Program Manager Vote-by-Mail Coordinator Voter Contact Manager Field Organizer Campaign Coordinator

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you design an absentee chase program for a statewide campaign?

Expected Answer: Should discuss comprehensive planning including staff allocation, database management, timeline creation, volunteer coordination, and methods to track success rates across different regions.

Q: What metrics would you use to evaluate an absentee chase program's success?

Expected Answer: Should mention ballot return rates, response rates to different contact methods, timeline efficiency, cost per returned ballot, and comparison to previous election cycles.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you prioritize which voters to contact in an absentee chase program?

Expected Answer: Should explain targeting based on voting history, demographic factors, geographic location, and ballot request dates.

Q: What are the key elements of training volunteers for absentee chase calls?

Expected Answer: Should cover script development, handling common voter questions, proper data entry, and maintaining voter privacy standards.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the basic process of an absentee chase program?

Expected Answer: Should explain the steps from identifying voters who requested ballots to following up and confirming ballot returns.

Q: How do you track voter contact attempts and responses?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic data entry procedures, maintaining call logs, and updating voter status in campaign database.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-1 years)

  • Basic voter contact methods
  • Data entry and tracking
  • Phone banking
  • Volunteer coordination

Mid (1-3 years)

  • Team management
  • Voter database management
  • Program scheduling
  • Volunteer training

Senior (3+ years)

  • Strategic program planning
  • Budget management
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Cross-department coordination

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No experience with voter databases or tracking systems
  • Poor communication skills
  • Lack of attention to detail in data entry
  • No understanding of election deadlines and requirements