Is political canvassing cold-calling?

With local elections looming we had our first canvasser on the doorstep yesterday. In spite of our yellow sticker requesting no cold-calling, our uninvited visitor rang the doorbell and waited on the doorstep for a response. As I had seen his approach from a window I knew he was not wearing a mask so I decided not to answer. I probably would have masked up myself and gone to the door had he been wearing one. But then my husband pointed out the “cold-calling” aspect, and said he had no intention of responding either. I guess canvassing is going to be rather different this time round ….