When an election is called, one of the most common questions our support team hears is: "Should we take our campaigns down until it's over?" Our answer is almost always no. Keep your campaigns live, and adjust who they target and what they ask supporters to do.
Elections are when public attention on policy is highest. Candidates are listening, journalists are looking for stories, and your supporters are paying attention. A campaign that goes dark during that window leaves attention on the table. Here's why we recommend keeping campaigns running, and three practical ways to make sure supporter voices are heard while the legislature is dissolved.
In most cases, yes. Rules differ by jurisdiction, but legislators' official email addresses typically aren't deactivated when an election is called. Messages shouldn't bounce, and offices may continue to monitor them.
British Columbia is a useful example. The Legislative Assembly's 2024 Transition Guide for Members Not Seeking Re-election set out what happened at dissolution:
For legislators who run again and win, the picture is simpler: they keep the same inbox and typically work through it after the election. Messages your supporters send during the campaign period don't disappear. They're waiting for whoever holds the seat when the dust settles.
That said, it's fair to worry that some messages won't get a careful read while offices are in campaign mode. If that's a concern, the answer is to redirect your campaign, not remove it.
Taking a campaign offline feels tidy, but it usually costs you more than it saves.
This is also one reason New/Mode no longer charges per campaign action. Our plans include unlimited campaigns, because we don't want pricing to give anyone a reason to switch off a campaign that's still doing its job.
If you're concerned that messages to sitting legislators won't get the attention they deserve during the campaign period, here's what we recommend instead of taking your campaign down.
If New/Mode has a candidate dataset for your election, switch your campaign's recipients to it for the campaign period. Supporters then reach the people actually asking for their vote — when candidates are most open to hearing from constituents.
For British Columbia's October 24 snap election, we do have a candidate dataset. Candidate data is added as parties release it, so coverage grows as election day approaches. One tip: because the data changes over time, it's best not to display candidate names on your action form.
No candidate dataset for your election? Switch your recipients to party leaders, or other Custom Recipients who have real influence over policy — campaign spokespeople, platform committees, or party critics on your issue. Party leaders are writing the platforms candidates will run on, so this is a direct line to the commitments that matter.
Elections are when the media decides which issues get airtime. Give your supporters a way to shape that:
Then add a link to the new action from your existing campaign page, and encourage supporters to join it while the election is on. Your original campaign stays live and keeps collecting supporters, while your most engaged people get a timely way to amplify the issue.
If your organization is also doing get-out-the-vote (GOTV) work, your advocacy campaigns aren't a distraction from it. They're one of the best ways to feed it.
This approach is sometimes called Integrated Voter Engagement: combining issue advocacy with voter mobilization. As we covered in what campaigners can learn from how digital advocacy was deployed in 2020, studies suggest that engaging supporters in advocacy actions during a campaign can raise their likelihood of voting by up to 50%. Emgage, which has long used this approach, has seen a 17.2% increase in voter participation among its base.
Advocacy actions also tell you who your likely voters are. Every supporter who emails a candidate or writes to their local paper gives you a contact, a location, and an issue they care about — exactly what you need to segment and follow up with turnout reminders.
The timing matters. Many GOTV programs fall short because they connect their advocacy work to election day turnout too late. Our Run the Full Race livestream with CallHub walks through real examples of organizations that went from advocacy action to election day turnout, and the supporter journeys that make it work.
Once results are in and new legislators take office, return your campaign to its regular footing:
✅ Switch recipients back to elected representatives, so messages reach whoever now holds each seat.
✅ Remove the link to your election-period media action from the campaign page.
✅ Refresh your campaign copy for the new term — new members are setting priorities, and that's a strong moment to make your ask.
A note on election rules: New/Mode can't provide legal advice on third-party advertising rules or other election regulations, which vary by jurisdiction. The recommendations above come from our support experience and a campaign-impact perspective. Check your local election authority's guidance, or consult a lawyer, before changing your activity during an election period.