How Shifts Work
Shifts are the building blocks of volunteer events. When you sign up for a shift, you're committing to a specific time slot within a larger event. Here's how it all fits together.
What Is a Shift?
A shift is a defined block of time during an event when volunteers do a specific activity. For example, a Saturday canvass event might have:
• Morning shift — 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Afternoon shift — 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
You sign up for the shift that works best for your schedule. Some events have just one shift; others have several.
An event page with multiple shifts listed by time slot
Types of Shifts
Different events have different kinds of shifts:
• Canvass shifts — go door-to-door in a neighborhood talking to voters
• Phone bank shifts — make calls from a phone or computer to reach voters
• Text bank shifts — send text messages using provided scripts
• Data entry shifts — help enter or clean up voter data
• Setup/teardown shifts — help prepare or clean up event spaces
• General volunteer shifts — tasks that vary by event
Different shift types you may encounter
Shifts vs. Events
Think of it this way:
• An event is the overall activity (e.g., "Neighborhood Canvass for Prop 12")
• A shift is your specific time commitment within that event
When you RSVP to an event, you usually pick which shift you want. If an event has only one time slot, there's just one shift and RSVP = signup.
A shift detail card with all the key information
Shift Capacity
Some shifts have a maximum number of volunteers. If a shift is full, you'll see a "Full" badge. You can join the waitlist and get notified if a spot opens up.
What Happens After You Sign Up
Once you're signed up for a shift:
• You'll get a confirmation with the shift time and meeting point
• Reminders are sent the day before and a couple hours before
• On the day of, you'll check in at the event to log your attendance
• After the shift, your hours are automatically tracked
Ready to Sign Up?
• Sign up for a shift
• Learn about check-in and walk lists