GOTV (Get Out The Vote)
The final-phase operation ensuring identified supporters actually vote.
Short answer
What is GOTV (Get Out The Vote)?
Get Out The Vote is the set of activities in the final days and on polling day that converts identified support into votes cast: voter slip distribution, reminders, transport where lawful, and hourly turnout tracking with intervention where booths lag target.
Definition
Get Out The Vote is the set of activities in the final days and on polling day that converts identified support into votes cast: voter slip distribution, reminders, transport where lawful, and hourly turnout tracking with intervention where booths lag target.
Why It Matters
Persuasion without turnout is worthless. Campaigns routinely spend months building support and then treat polling day as administrative, losing on turnout differentials what they gained on persuasion.
Example in Indian Elections
A GOTV operation reports turnout per booth at fixed hourly intervals against target, allowing mobile reserve teams to be deployed to underperforming booths by mid-morning rather than reviewing the failure afterwards.
Related Terms
- Anti-IncumbencyVoter sentiment against a sitting representative or government seeking re-election.
- Incumbency AdvantageBenefits accruing to a sitting representative — recognition, resources, access.
- Swing VoterA voter whose choice is genuinely undecided and can be moved by campaigning.
- Vote BankA bloc of voters expected to vote together, usually along community or interest lines.
- Margin PathThe arithmetic route to the number of votes required to win.
- Booth CommitteeA local team responsible for campaign activity at a single polling booth.