Did anyone receive a call from any party?

[USZA]

I received a call from the DA yesterday - well, the women said that she was from the DA. Apparently, they got my details from the voters roll.

She then proceeded to ask me to vote for the DA in the upcoming elections. I responded by asking what their manifesto is or whether they have a website where I can read up on them a bit - now I know that they have a website but this woman didn't even know, nor could she point me in the right direction. I then ended the call by telling her that I cannot tell her because I don't have any information on their party.

Now, I know that I will most probably vote for the DA - at least on a provincial level because they manage the Western Cape so well - but I feel that nobody has the right to ask me what party I'm going to vote for, nor tell me to vote for their party. What happened to your vote being confidential/private? I think that a better approach would have been to ask me whether they could count on my support, not to ask me whether I was going to vote for them.

Did anyone on this forum receive a similar call, from any party, and how did you handle the situation. To those who haven't received such a call, how would you handle such a situation?

 

[simp]

Yes, I got on of these too. Same story - they got my details off the voters roll - even though I have a NEW cellular number. WTF!? When I told the plonker I am not speaking to him unless he gives me a satisfactory explanation as to how he really got my details, he put the phone down.

 

[VertigoZA]

Hey,

As far as I know, the people who are doing call outs (volunteers) should have all the information necessary to answer your questions.

As a matter of interest, did you mind them calling you? I get really annoyed with Telemarketers, but see Political canvassing a little differently.. It shows a healthy, general, interest and concern in local politics, and I'm glad there are people willing to give up their time in the interests of their party... I really wouldn't mind receiving a call from the ANC even... at least it would show they have some interest in getting my (white) vote.

I do however agree that it undermines the party a little if the rep hasn't properly prepared before they call you.