- President Theodore Roosevelt
Volunteer on a Political Campaign
Political campaigns run on two kinds of fuel; financial contributions and volunteers. Both have a huge impact on the outcome of the campaign, but volunteers are largely overlooked except in the closest of races. Instead, it's the financial contributions that get the most media attention and governmental regulation. Financial contributions to political campaigns must reported to either the federal Federal Election Commission (FEC), or the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).Although financial contributions are closely regulated, being an election volunteer is a constitutional freedom. The laws used to regulate contributions to campaigns were actually designed to encourage election volunteers; according to the FEC; "The Federal Election Campaign Act and FEC regulations include a number of provisions intended to encourage individuals to become involved in campaigns. For example, an individual can provide volunteer services to a candidate or party without considering the value of those service a contribution to the candidate or party."
One resource available is One Voter's ElectionVolunteer website. On the website is contact information for state or federal candidates and initiatives that will appear at the next election. With early information for the 2008 and 2010 Primaries, the current candidate count is just under 250. The website also contains information about scheduled Special Elections throughout the state and how to get involved.