Where you decide to use e-communications, you will need to identify the steps needed to set these up and reflect these in your plans.
You will need to decide whether to manage e-communications in house or via an external provider, and you may decide to take different approaches for different types of e-communication.
For example, you may choose to send emails yourself and outsource SMS messaging to an external provider. Any person who will be processing personal data for use with any e-communication channels must comply with the requirements of data protection legislation.
You will need to create template communications in advance where you are using emails, SMS, or other written electronic communications.
Our guidance for Route 1 and Route 2 contains detail of what information must be included and captured in e-communications and we have produced template emails that can act as a basis for your e-communications.
You will also need to ensure that you have mechanisms in place to track and monitor the dispatch of e-communications to ensure that you have an audit trail of all contact attempts with properties and electors throughout the canvass.
Monitoring the success of contact attempts using different contact methods will help you to evaluate their effectiveness and refine your approach as needed for future canvasses. The data set out in the performance standards for EROs will also help you to understand the impact of your activities and where improvements can be made.