Canvassing is the systematic initiation of direct contact with individuals commonly used during
political campaigns. Campaigners will knock on doors or make telephone calls to engage in a personalized contact with an individual. It is used by political parties and issue groups to identify supporters, persuade the undecided, add voters to the
voters list through
voter registration, and it is central to
get out the vote operations. It is the core element of what political campaigns call the
ground game or
field.