Hop on a bus for a canvass day trip with Swing Left

Swing Left charters buses across the country to bring volunteer canvassers directly to targeted districts that could decide the balance of power. Volunteers knock on doors using Swing Left's Ground Truth program, an initiative focused on deep listening and non-judgmental conversations to connect with a broad range of voters.

• Charged Tech: Bring a fully charged cell phone along with a portable charger or power bank.

• Food & Drinks: Swing Left provides water, snacks, and clipboards on the bus, but lunch is not provided. Please bring a packed lunch or plan to buy food near your canvassing area during breaks.

• Weather & Walking Gear: Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for a full day outdoors.

Ground Truth uses its own canvassing tool called the People App rather than traditional apps like MiniVan or PDI. Before boarding, download the app at swingleft.org/app, log in, and join the Swing Left campaign. Your bus captains will walk everyone through tech checks and app setup during the ride.

Yes, but a parent or legal guardian must accompany any participant under 18 years old at all times. Because seats are limited, both the parent/guardian and child must sign up for individual seats on Mobilize with a unique email address. Additionally, the parent or legal guardian must complete an online waiver for each minor prior to boarding the bus.

Your bus captains will manage logistics and guide you through the journey:

• Check-In & Tech Setup: Bus captains will check you in as you board and help finalize your app setup.

• Buddy System: You will pair up with a buddy so you can look out for one another throughout the day.

• Canvass Training: Captains will lead a ~30-minute training on the bus to go over the script, practice deep-canvassing techniques, and demonstrate how to log data in the People App.

• Turf Assignments: You will be assigned your canvassing neighborhood (turf) before arriving at the destination.

Once the bus reaches the staging location, you will navigate to your assigned turf:

• If your turf is nearby, you and your partner will walk.

• If your turf requires driving, a volunteer driver will transport your team, or you will be provided with an Uber voucher code to take a ride-share.

You will be asked to return to the bus drop-off location 30 to 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Before heading home, the group will hold a casual debrief to share inspiring stories, submit feedback via swingleft.org/feedback, and take group photos. Please note that the bus will not depart until every single rider is accounted for, so staying in touch with your bus captain and buddy is essential.

You can donate to fund a Ground Truth bus trip here.