ABSTRACT
Although it may be overshadowed by the national campaign reported in the media, local campaigning is a familiar and traditional part of elections in Britain. Across the country many thousands of party supporters distribute leaflets and other forms of campaign literature, visit or telephone electors to canvass their support, put up posters and set up and staff street stalls. Candidates walk around shopping centres trying to shake hands with voters, visit schools, hospitals and old people's homes, and address meetings. On polling day, campaign workers knock up tardy supporters, offer lifts to and from the polls and stand outside polling stations taking down the registration numbers of voters or handing out more leaflets. All parties have many members well-versed in running local campaigns and all provide training for campaign organisers and other volunteers on a continuous basis. This reflects the fact that the parties now recognise that local campaigning can have a significant impact on election results. In recent years they have devoted more attention and resources to it, concentrating especially on key marginal seats (see Denver and Hands, 1997a; Denver, Hands and Henig, 1998).
