The Anti-Authoritarian Toolkit, by D-HUB
Volume 03 | GOTV: Get Out The Vote

Vote Tripling

Engage More and More Voters and Amplify the Base

The Play

Vote Tripling is a grassroots mobilization tactic that turns a supporter into a "tripler"—a mini-mobilizer. The idea is simple: ask each person to get three friends to vote, and encourage them to do the same. The magic lies in the number: asking for three commitments is simple, achievable, and powerful.

There are different types of triplers. Some are highly engaged and ready to organize others. Some may only take a single action. Yet they all share a common goal: leveraging personal connections to make voter outreach spread like wildfire and boost voter turnout effectively.

This tactic is especially powerful in key moments—when trying to reach a quorum, during early voting periods, or in swing regions where every vote matters. Like a chain reaction, tit spreads fast and scales quickly, multiplying impact with minimal cost.

But vote tripling is about more than numbers. It creates energy, sparks conversations, and builds momentum. Vote tripling is about making GOTV contagious. And when done right, it turns GOTV from a tactic into a movement, a call to action, a stand against apathy.

Why it works

  • Built on trust. People are more likely to vote when asked by someone they know. Personal appeals are more persuasive than generic outreach.
  • Easy to commit. Asking supporters to contact just three people feels doable, increasing follow-through and participation.
  • Spreads fast. Each tripler can spark more triplers, creating a chain reaction that quickly expands reach.
  • Cost-Effective. It relies on social networks, not big budgets, making it ideal for low-resource campaigns.

How it works

1. ID your Triplers

Start by identifying people who are already committed to voting. These are your triplers—the ones who can help bring others along. Find them online, at events, in public spaces, or outside polling stations.

Not all triplers are the same. There are two main types:

  • Tripler-Organizers: Highly engaged supporters who can do more. With some training, they can persuade voters, recruit new triplers, and even lead their own mini-GOTV efforts. They're your campaign's backbone.
  • Direct Triplers: Everyday supporters you meet on the street, online, or at the polls. Their contribution won't be as extensive as that of Tripler-Organizers, but their impact can be significant because they are more numerous, each committing to get three others to vote.

2. ID their targets (and how to persuade them)

Not everyone is equally easy to persuade—and not everyone responds to the same message. That's why triplers should focus on the people in their networks who are most likely to be convinced. By targeting the most persuadable profiles, you maximize impact. Equip triplers with clear guidance: whom to focus on, what messages to use, and how to approach them. This helps them spot low-turnout but reachable contacts—and gives them the confidence to engage.

3. Train the Triplers

Tripler-Organizers are key to getting more voters to the polls —but they need support to do it well. Train them in core skills like empathy, active listening, and persuasive communication. These tools help them connect with undecided or disengaged voters on a personal level. Use scalable formats—like online modules and pre-recorded videos —to make training widely accessible. Create self-guided materials with practical examples, honest messaging, and ways to handle pushback. Keep communication flowing and build a sense of mission and belonging among these highly engaged volunteers.

Direct Triplers don't need formal training, but they still need a clear mission. Share tools they can use quickly and easily: social media posts, short videos, direct messages, or physical materials like stickers and leaflets. The ask is simple: encourage three people they know, especially those less likely to vote, to show up.

4. Create a Community

Sustaining this tactic over time requires connection. Set up a support network—using WhatsApp or another messaging app—where Tripler-Organizers can share successes, challenges, and best practices. Keep communication active. Daily check-ins, updates, and encouragement help maintain momentum and build a real sense of community and shared purpose.

5. Test and Refine

Don't confuse feedback with anecdotes. Real power lies in tracking hard data: how many people were reached, how many committed to vote, and which messages worked best. This kind of ongoing testing of different approaches can massively improve results, allowing you to refine strategies in real-time for maximum impact. The key to making the most of this play is to stay flexible, using real-time feedback to fine-tune your approach and adapt to local conditions.

6. Follow Up with Your Triplers

Even highly motivated triplers can lose momentum. Gentle follow-ups—via WhatsApp, or email—can double follow-through rates. Keep it personal and encouraging. A quick nudge reminding triplers of their commitment ("Have you checked in with your three friends yet?") can make the difference between good intentions and real turnout. Set up lightweight systems to send these reminders at key moments, like early voting or right before Election Day.

Tips

A. Base Persuasion on Public Opinion Data... And Honesty

Don't rely on intuition alone. Use data—polls, focus groups, and social listening—to identify the right targets and shape messages that will land. Equip triplers with insights they can actually use.
But data means little without trust. Honesty is essential. Ensure that triplers are straightforward and sincere in their outreach. Triplers should speak from a place of sincerity, not manipulation. The goal is to connect authentically —even when naming real risks like threats to rights, social programs, or democracy itself. Don't spread fear. Share what's at stake.

B. Provide Tools for Diverse Audiences

Give triplers a rich toolkit. Create digital content—texts, videos, memes—and also physical materials like stickers, posters, or badges for street-level outreach. Make sure materials are tailored to different groups. Blend facts with emotional cues that invite real conversations. And back it all with a strong central hub, ready to support triplers and help them scale what works.

C. Gamify Participation with Small Rewards

Energy fades if there's no sense of momentum. Friendly competitions and small incentives can keep triplers engaged and motivated. Create challenges ("Help three friends vote and post a selfie"), offer digital badges, or organize public shoutouts. Gamifying participation makes the process more fun and adds social proof—showing others that everyday people are making a difference.

Who's done it well?

USA: You Can Vote

Turning Voters into Messengers

In 2020, You Can Vote launched a Vote Tripling campaign in North Carolina to boost turnout by leveraging personal connections.

They chose Vote Tripling for a simple reason: people are more likely to listen to friends already in their contact lists. During the 17-day early voting period, You Can Vote set up tables outside polling stations—taking advantage of North Carolina's law allowing presence within buffer zones. They used visible signage, stickers, and QR codes linked to pre-written messages to make participation quick and easy.

Voters who had just cast their ballots were invited to become direct triplers—contacting three to five friends by text or phone to encourage them to vote. The campaign prioritized first- and second-time young voters, who were more likely to respond well to peer encouragement and to share their voting experiences online.

The organization deployed 560 volunteers—trained as Tripler-Organizers—using five tailored starter scripts designed to fit different personalities and situations. Volunteers reported a "social proof" effect: when one person in a group agreed to participate, others often followed. To keep energy high, You Can Vote hosted nightly Zoom sessions for volunteers to share experiences, troubleshoot, and build community.

While turnout increases couldn't be definitively attributed to the campaign, polling sites with historically low participation saw noticeable upticks during the early voting period.

"On Election Day, we set up outside polling sites, this method proved to be cost-efficient for getting people to talk to their friends about voting."

Israel: Israeli Civil Society

Vote Tripling with Precision

During Israel's 2021 elections, several civil society groups coordinated a national Vote Tripling campaign to boost turnout for the non-Arab, anti-Netanyahu opposition bloc. The campaign built on the infrastructure of the Black Flags protest movement, which had mobilized thousands the previous year against corruption scandals in Netanyahu's government. Under the slogan "Go! And get three more," they transformed protest energy into electoral action.

Organizers focused on relational persuasion and resource optimization. Recognizing that Israel's electorate was sharply polarized, they concentrated not on undecided voters, but on maximizing turnout among known opposition supporters. Using data from the previous three election cycles, they mapped "Green Zones" — areas where opposition parties consistently held over 70% support — and avoided "Red Zones" dominated by pro-government voters.

Volunteers, recruited from activist networks, were trained in persuasion tactics, equipped with short, duty-focused scripts, and participated in simulations to prepare for election day. Some triplers received payment, but those motivated by a sense of civic duty proved to be more effective at mobilizing voters.

The campaign also stood out for its strong visual identity. Volunteers wore branded T-shirts and used slogans, a dedicated website, and photo frames outside polling stations to build visibility and spark engagement without overt partisanship.

"Given limited resources and time, the campaign chose not to spread itself further by engaging with the other side and focused instead on existing support banks. So, we consciously decided not to waste time and resources and focused the campaign on specific areas where we knew we had good support, but with turnout rates below average."

Learn more

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Other resources

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Turn a Choice into an Expectation.

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Utilizing Vigilant Observation as a Driver for Mobilization