Viral Voter Registration Project

[J Free]

Goal: To visually show how many people are becoming Republican in order to vote for Ron Paul - and to show it via the impact we each personally make. To show the bandwagon.

Secondary Goal: To prove to the GOP that we are expanding the party, that we are here to stay, that RP is electable, and to prove the disconnect between the polls and reality.

Initial Campaign: To get people to concentrate on making sure their friends have registered Republican - and friends of friends - and so on - so we can win closed primaries.

Site Beta Sandbox: http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/
Flowchart: http://ronpaulcolorado.org/rpgop/flowchart.pdf
Brief Description: http://ronpaulcolorado.org/rpgop/VVR.rtf

I really need people to help with this project because the registration deadlines are so short. This could really take off but gotta get it up and tested and running. Feel free to play with the beta and see how it works. The database will be purged and the software will be reinstalled for final launch.

Urgent needs:
Graphics - Need some 220 px wide x 180 px high - theme - make people feel good about becoming Republican, voting for Ron Paul in the primary, etc.
All of them that people load here will be made available for people to select/use via the web/blog viral mechanism. Maybe we can vote on the one or two to be used on the pages and via the email mechanism. Need a test/demo dummy graphic real fast just to place it and see the layout.

Also some 100-200 px wide x 75-150 px high - combined with larger ones for the site and headers as part of the sitewide design - theme - show how we are going to stick around and change the GOP because we are gonna win. Maybe a bunch of peasants with pitchforks storming the noble's dinner party :D

Editorial/Writing - Need wordsmithing of the database-driven content. Calls to action, etc. See the beta and the outline above for the current content.

Site Design - I'm totally out of my element here. The software uses Smarty templates for the database-driven pages. The site overall will encompass this campaign (voter registration) and whatever future campaigns (eg converting GOP) people can come up with that really leverage the social network of friends using a common resource base. But the non-campaign based pages can probably be static. Or not. Need ideas.

Research - The key resource need is the list of states, links to their registration forms/instructions, deadlines. I think the campaign has the deadlines. I've seen a list of state links at http://www.usayfoundation.org/index.php . May be others. We are too close to the deadlines to use national forms. A lot of states don't like them. This stuff needs to be put on a page/table so it can be linked from the database-driven content.

Also need to change the font-size in the Flash map.

What ideas do you have? How can we leverage this and ramp it up to beat deadlines? This is really an ideal project to collaborate on because it can be ongoing

Oh yeah. Anyone got any good ideas for a domain name?

[J Free]

bump

[nayjevin]

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7507/viralgs5.jpg

[nayjevin]

i love this idea..

can we choose from a couple different emails to send? I'd send a different one to my homeys than i would to my mommy.

[PrimarilyPaul]

i love this idea..

can we choose from a couple different emails to send? I'd send a different one to my homeys than i would to my mommy.

Include a link to my site: http://www.primarilypaul.com/register

[PrimarilyPaul]

This stuff needs to be put on a page/table so it can be linked from the database-driven content.

Done. See my signature.

[Patrick Henry]

Goal: To visually show how many people are becoming Republican in order to vote for Ron Paul - and to show it via the impact we each personally make. To show the bandwagon.

Secondary Goal: To prove to the GOP that we are expanding the party, that we are here to stay, that RP is electable, and to prove the disconnect between the polls and reality.

Initial Campaign: To get people to concentrate on making sure their friends have registered Republican - and friends of friends - and so on - so we can win closed primaries.

Site Beta Sandbox: http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/
Flowchart: http://ronpaulcolorado.org/rpgop/flowchart.pdf
Brief Description: http://ronpaulcolorado.org/rpgop/VVR.rtf

I really need people to help with this project because the registration deadlines are so short. This could really take off but gotta get it up and tested and running. Feel free to play with the beta and see how it works. The database will be purged and the software will be reinstalled for final launch.

Urgent needs:
Graphics - Need some 220 px wide x 180 px high - theme - make people feel good about becoming Republican, voting for Ron Paul in the primary, etc.
All of them that people load here will be made available for people to select/use via the web/blog viral mechanism. Maybe we can vote on the one or two to be used on the pages and via the email mechanism. Need a test/demo dummy graphic real fast just to place it and see the layout.

Also some 100-200 px wide x 75-150 px high - combined with larger ones for the site and headers as part of the sitewide design - theme - show how we are going to stick around and change the GOP because we are gonna win. Maybe a bunch of peasants with pitchforks storming the noble's dinner party :D

Editorial/Writing - Need wordsmithing of the database-driven content. Calls to action, etc. See the beta and the outline above for the current content.

Site Design - I'm totally out of my element here. The software uses Smarty templates for the database-driven pages. The site overall will encompass this campaign (voter registration) and whatever future campaigns (eg converting GOP) people can come up with that really leverage the social network of friends using a common resource base. But the non-campaign based pages can probably be static. Or not. Need ideas.

Research - The key resource need is the list of states, links to their registration forms/instructions, deadlines. I think the campaign has the deadlines. I've seen a list of state links at http://www.usayfoundation.org/index.php . May be others. We are too close to the deadlines to use national forms. A lot of states don't like them. This stuff needs to be put on a page/table so it can be linked from the database-driven content.

Also need to change the font-size in the Flash map.

What ideas do you have? How can we leverage this and ramp it up to beat deadlines? This is really an ideal project to collaborate on because it can be ongoing

Oh yeah. Anyone got any good ideas for a domain name?

Outstanding idea!

[J Free]

I like the idea of multiple emails to send as invites too - but right now the software only picks one set of campaign content for each campaign. So it is either a code-rewrite - or a couple of different "register new Republicans" campaigns - or people using the different sorts of invite methods.

For example, the standard email for one group of friends - website/blog/IM embeds for a different group of friends. The latter method does not require anything other than using the URL that gets to your personalized page (where they can register as your friend). In fact, now that I think about it that is the way to personalize it.

Use the standard email/form email invite process for the standard campaign content. Use the personalized URL for any other form of communication (website/IM/etc) or where you want to create your own content. Explaining this is some verbiage/instructions that should appear on or be linked from the invite page.

Here is the Smarty template code for that invite page:
{capture assign="page_content"}

<div class="content" id="box-content">

<h3>{$FT.node.name}, Please Invite Some Friends to Join</h3>

<p class="personal">
<strong>There are two ways you can invite your friends to join the campaign:</strong>
</p>

<ol>
<li>Use the invitation form below.</li>
<li>Or send your friends to your personal registration page at:
<a class="pers-reg" name="link" target="reg_{$FT.node.uid}" href="{$FT.server.www_root}/campaigns/{$FT.campaign.site_path}/register/{$FT.node.uid}/">{$FT.server.www_root}/campaigns/{$FT.campaign.site_path}/register/ {$FT.node.uid}/</a><br></li>
</ol>

{include file="campaign/form-invite.tpl"}

<p>
Or, go back to your <a href="{$FT.server.www_root}/campaigns/{$FT.campaign.site_path}/impact/{$FT.node.uid}/">personal impact page</a> to see yourself on the map.
</p>

</div>

<div class="content" id="box-network">

{if $FT.campaign.image}<p><img src="{$FT.campaign.image|htmlspecialchars}" border="1"></p>{/if}

{include file="campaign/list-leaderboard.tpl"}
{include file="campaign/list-friends.tpl"}
{include file="campaign/list-degrees.tpl"}
{include file="campaign/list-path.tpl"}

</div>

{include file="campaign/block-campaign-info.tpl"}

{/capture}

{include file="page-frame.tpl" page_title="`$FT.campaign.title`" page_content=$page_content tracker="invite"}

The actual content/instructions is a tiny confusing bit inside a much bigger confusing bit. Perhaps that can be expanded

[J Free]

Primarily Paul. Your link is great (need to change the deadline for CO though - it's Dec 5 2007not Jan 5 2008 for party affiliation changes).

It is now linked from the campaign content blurb (which also goes out with the email) in draft form so that you can see it. Need some wordsmithing of the campaign content. If you can link back to a main campaign page so that we can keep the process viral. Back buttons work - but without the link there's a possiblity that people simply wander off into the ether and forget to tell their friends. Also, we need to maintain the integrity of the friends-of-friends linkages. Otherwise, the software becomes pretty useless for motivation purposes.

I'll let you know what link by posting it here. On edit - this all changes once we finalize launch of the software on its own domain so I'll put a note in a tickler file and pm you when the finalized launch occurs.

[J Free]

OK. Here's my prelim list of domain names for this project

RPGOP.com - To show the social network and the GOP that we ain't going away.

GOPrevolution.com - To show that this is bigger than Ron Paul and that we intend change. I like the idea of this one. Just not sure about the impact of the word revolution

WethePeople.com - My favorite but someone's hoarding it.

RonPaulRepublican.com - Again. Someone's sitting on it.

[nayjevin]

Need some 220 px wide x 180 px high - theme - make people feel good about becoming Republican, voting for Ron Paul in the primary, etc.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/194/viralbutton1pz6.jpg

[J Free]

I like it. Wait a few minutes and I'll try to figure out how to get it up onto the beta site.

[jm1776]

Does anybody know this guy?

http://republicansforronpaul.com/

The domain name is good.

What about a Republican Registration bomb? Everyone even in open states could register on the same day. This would send the right message to local and national GOP leaders?

[J Free]

The graphic is up on the beta sandbox - http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/ . Neat.

Need to wordsmith the campaign content blurb. Specifically the content that goes out as the invite email. Currently composed of:

Plea: You can make all the difference in the world. All it takes is a concern about the future of this great country and a few minutes of your time today. Will you help?

Personalized This stuff is whatever the person sending the email writes in the text box on the invite page here - http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/invite/46e9a63277aef6d3d8626fece18790d6/

Meat and Potatoes To elect Ron Paul, we must first ensure he is nominated. To nominate him, we must become Republican. I have become a Republican because I believe the Constitution - not a fickle majority of the people - is the rock upon which our nation is built. The Constitution is what unites us as a people and we the people are also the ultimate protectors of it. For the simple reason that we the people ordained it into existence. That is also a cornerstone of the Republican Party and I believe that Ron Paul is the President who will restore that core belief to the Republican Party. Will you join me?State deadline info and voter registration forms. (http://www.primarilypaul.com/ron-paul-in-the-primaries/)

Other blurbage (can't figure out what template file this is being pulled from) - Click here to join this campaign, see where it is being sent as illustrated geographically on a map and pass it on to your friends. One individual can make a difference.
Hotlink to accept page.

Thank you for your support

Legalistic Disclaimer stuff (from a different template file)


Got any ideas/edits/rewrites? The meat and potatoes blurb in particular shows up everywhere. Needs to be crisp and compelling. I put the "Constitution is the rock" stuff because that seems to me to be a key difference between Dems and Reps and key differences need to be emphasized - both to get people to change affiliation and to get GOP acceptance of an expanded party.

Also -- really need some brainstorm ideas re the overall site home page. This campaign home page (beta site) can't be the actual home page of the site because there will be multiple campaigns and there will need to be resource pages outside the campaign format.

[J Free]

Does anybody know this guy?

http://republicansforronpaul.com/

The domain name is good.

What about a Republican Registration bomb? Everyone even in open states could register on the same day. This would send the right message to local and national GOP leaders?

If this site takes off, we probably can't have Ron Paul in the domain name. It might need to become a PAC to cover expenses. And that's a hornet's nest.

[PrimarilyPaul]

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3917/unclesamforthegopmt5.jpg (http://www.primarilypaul.com/register)

Here's one I just made for my website. I can put your URL down on the bottom if you'd like.

[J Free]

Hot dang. I think we've got a theme and a domain.

I just registered the domains - GOPrising.com and NewGOPrising.com

Here's the reasoning/appeal:
1 Both still have the pun link to revolution so that RP supporters get it.

2. Both still have the implied threat to dead-ender and hostile elites inside the party and both create a negative image for anyone who would attack us (ie rising vs sinking/falling/imploding).

3. Both are far more positive to Joe Everyday GOP without the mental destructiveness/nihilism/marginalizing of "revolution".

4. Both have plenty of visual imagery and specifically re polls/catching on/winning elections.

The graphic above may be great for the home page design. With buttons around it for various links to pages --- and a Join the GOPRising hotlink to the viral mapping/social network software that is in beta.

So what do you think? I'll see if I can add a poll to the thread to distinguish between the two different domains (or bury the names). Any ideas for a mockup of both the home page and the header/navbar stuff that would run across the other pages? Or whatever. I really am lost with design. Don't even know where to begin.

[crslsc]

J Free--that's a great start. Sounds like we're thinking along similar lines.

Thoughts/ideas that seem relevant:

1) There is a bigger movement here than just Ron Paul. Ron Paul is our focus, but it would be great if this election cycle saw the growth of a significant bloc within the Republican party dedicated to the kind of conservative ideas Ron Paul is championing (small government, financial responsibility, individual liberty and responsibility). The Republican Party has abandoned any semblance of being the small government party and has gotten away with it by focusing on social conservatives and the war. This has worked out terribly for the Republicans and will only get worse as social conservatives age and younger generations that are generally more liberal on social issues grow up and start voting.

2) I would like to see us (Ron Paul grassroots) build an online hub that would mirror the success of Nov 5th, but apply it at the precinct level to finding Ron Paul supporters and getting them to vote in the primaries. What you've already built is a great start.

The donation counter on the campaign web site is a powerful motivator--seeing the numbers go up makes you feel like you're not alone, like the campaign is making progress, and motivates you to go out and drum up more support. How about we make something similar, but for grassroots data like the following:

# of precinct captains
# of doors receiving campaign literature
# of possible Ron Paul supporters identified
# of votes pledged for the primaries
# of yard signs put up

I think that would be a good motivator to get all the Meetups and individual Ron Paul supporters to get out, go door to door, etc. Most of the activities I've seen on my local Meetup mailing list have been random rallies, a march etc. Nothing wrong with those, but I think we have lots of room for further growth by focusing on door to door canvassing and voter identification/registration/recruitment.

The campaign has its hands full in the early voting states right now. For example, I live in Texas, and I don't see the campaign having the time or attention to organize any kind of serious door to door canvassing or literature distribution in Texas. But if we, as a nationwide grassroots group, started doing it on our own, we could start to make an impact. More awareness. More people who learn his supporters are real, regular people. More people who learn he has a real shot. More people to donate to the Tea Party. More people voting in nationwide polls. More people to vote in the primaries.

Door to door canvassing in Texas or Oregon may not be nearly as critical as doing the same thing in Iowa or NH, but if traveling to those states isn't an option for me, why not get to work locally?

3) Another idea is some kind of accountability chain. Meaning that when election day rolls around (or early voting periods), I'm responsible for calling person X and making sure that he votes. Person X checks on Person Y, Person Y on Person Z, etc. If Ron Paul is drawing heavily from non-traditional groups (the young, independents, etc) I don't want that support to disappear on election day because those people don't actually vote (I say this as a mid 20s person who does vote but with plenty of friends who don't). If we're building an online grassroots system for recruiting Ron Paul voters, we might want to consider this issue and what we can do to minimize it.

I registered two domain names a couple of days ago, and I'd be happy to make either one available for this purpose if they are desired: ronpaulpeople.com and ronpaulprecincts.com.

Thanks for your great ideas and work!

[J Free]

Could lurkers here head over to the beta site - http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/ - and register?

For some reason, the Flash map doesn't seem to be visually showing the connections/spread at the overall aggregate level. I don't know whether it is my browser or whether something is funky with the Flash map itself. Need testers. The database will be purged once we get this stuff out of beta.

Does the Flash map work for you? Is it showing any sort of spreading tentacles/paths?

[walt]

par tof me loves it, the other part says the media will use it against us.

[crslsc]

Could lurkers here head over to the beta site - http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/ - and register?

For some reason, the Flash map doesn't seem to be visually showing the connections/spread at the overall aggregate level. I don't know whether it is my browser or whether something is funky with the Flash map itself. Need testers. The database will be purged once we get this stuff out of beta.

Does the Flash map work for you? Is it showing any sort of spreading tentacles/paths?

No, it's not working. When I signed up I saw the arc spread out from the starting node to my location, but on subsequent visits to the page all I see is the purple star in Colorado.

Also, when I signed up I didn't know what "loot" is (and still don't).

[J Free]

"loot" is like "foo". It's an additional metric that the software says we can track and link to zipcode.

Come to think of it though - that may be intimidating people from playing with the system.

Heads up people - need you to put all your bank account info in that box :D

Seriously - leave "loot" blank. It's not hooked up to anything. I'll see if I can get it taken off the page. In fact its presence may be what's gumming things up.

Oh - and re your earlier comments. Zip code is the most granular that we can get without a monstrous amount of work that we're too late for. But I totally agree that there will need to be some way for people to connect with others in their zip code so that people can hook up locally and flesh out precincts and precinct strategies.

[nayjevin]

wow this is coming along. love the suggestions , especially this one:



The donation counter on the campaign web site is a powerful motivator--seeing the numbers go up makes you feel like you're not alone, like the campaign is making progress, and motivates you to go out and drum up more support. How about we make something similar, but for grassroots data like the following:

# of precinct captains
# of doors receiving campaign literature
# of possible Ron Paul supporters identified
# of votes pledged for the primaries
# of yard signs put up

i agree this could be a powerful motivator -- i can see myself getting jacked up every day about how many new #'s i put up that day -- making bets with friends, contests among meetup groups for prizes, perhaps a prize from the website? (if it can't be cheated)...

this has all kinds of strong written all over it...

[J Free]

Bump.

Need more poll votes re the preferred domain name - goprising.com, newgoprising.com, something else?

[J Free]

Hopefully the Flash map is fixed now and shows dots. Can lurkers here test it by registering at the beta sandbox link below?

Please comment here if something doesn't look right.

[lawdida]

whatever you do, make sure you get the .net and .org and any other related name you might want to control.

[J Free]

bump again.

Please test the beta software. Register at http://www.freeslacker.net/ft/campaigns/NewGOP/ and post on this thread about what it looks like. Or register as a friend of someone else to see the degrees stuff. WE NEED TESTING so that we can get it up and running.

If for whatever reason you aren't testing, tell me why? These threads about people watching freaking TV get hundreds of responses. Do people really believe we are gonaa win this election by watching TV and hoping we see an ad for Ron Paul?

[jm1776]

The flash map worked fine for me on OS X. The registration email arrived in fine shape as well.