Canvassed

Canvassed is the past tense and past participle of the verb canvass. It has multiple related meanings, with the most common in political and civic contexts and a secondary sense involving examination or discussion.

In its primary sense, to canvass means to solicit opinions, votes, or support from a population. This is often done through direct contact such as going door to door, making phone calls, or sending surveys by mail or online. People or organizations canvass to gauge public support for a candidate, policy, or issue, or to persuade individuals to adopt a particular viewpoint. A district or group that has been canvassed has had volunteers or staff visit or contact many residents to collect information or influence opinions.

In a broader sense, canvass can also mean to examine or discuss something in depth. For example, a committee might canvass the available evidence or opinions on a matter before reaching a decision. In research and data collection, to canvass may mean to survey a sample of people to gather information, though this usage is often described more specifically as surveying or polling.

Examples of usage include phrases like “the volunteers canvassed 500 households,” “the council canvassed opinions on the proposal,” or “the team canvassed the literature to identify gaps.” While related to polling and surveys, canvassing emphasizes active outreach and engagement with individuals or groups, rather than passive data collection alone.