Campaign Research That Drives Results at the Ballot Box
Every successful political campaign runs on information. Which voters need mobilisation? Which messages cut through? Where are the vulnerabilities? Campaign research answers these questions before it's too late to act.
Meraki Research provides full-service political campaign research for candidates, political parties, advocacy organisations, and PACs across South Africa and Africa.
The Campaign Research Toolkit
Message Testing: We test messages, taglines, and frames with target voter segments to identify language that resonates, persuades, and motivates — measuring emotional response, believability, and persuasive impact on undecided voters.
Opposition Landscape Research: We map political vulnerabilities and strengths of opponents through public record research and primary voter surveys that test attack lines for effectiveness and believability.
Voter Targeting Research: We identify the specific segments where campaign resources should concentrate — persuadable voters who can be moved and low-propensity supporters who need mobilisation.
Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Research: We research the motivations and barriers to voting among target constituencies, informing GOTV strategies that actually move people to the polls.
Communication Channel Research: We map the information ecosystem your voters inhabit — which platforms, media, and messengers carry credibility with your target segments.
Qualitative Campaign Research
Numbers tell you what voters think. Qualitative research tells you why. Our campaign focus groups and in-depth voter interviews dig beneath surface opinion to understand:
- The emotional narratives voters bring to an election
- The specific concerns and grievances driving sentiment
- How voters process new information about candidates
- The language voters use — not the language campaigns assume they use
Integrated Campaign Research Programs
The most effective programs combine benchmark polling, qualitative focus groups, quantitative message testing, tracking polls, and post-campaign analysis — each component informing the others.
What We Deliver
| Deliverable | Format | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Benchmark Poll | Candidate standing, opponent vulnerabilities, issue salience | 2–3 weeks |
| Message Testing Report | Which messages move which voters, by segment | 2 weeks |
| Tracking Programme | Rolling weekly or bi-weekly waves through election | Retainer |
| Focus Group Findings | Voter narrative and emotional driver analysis | Included with benchmark |
| Campaign Playbook | Prioritised strategic recommendations for persuasion and turnout | Delivered post-benchmark |