What is VAN?
VAN (Voter Action Network/ Votebuilder) is a database used nationally by Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations to perform voter contact. Your VAN subscription includes:
- Lists of registered voters, regularly updated with newly registered voters
- Platform to canvass, phone bank, record contacts
- Scripts with TDP messaging
- Guidance on who to contact for different types of voter contact, including lists of likely Democrats and persuadable voters and Race/Ethnicity, partisan and issue models
- Phone numbers, including cells from TDP and DNC acquisitions at no additional cost to the campaign
- Partnership with mail and digital companies to facilitate easy digital and mail buys
- Access to pre-negotiated rates for digital tools (e.g., Mobilize, Hustle)
How do I get a VAN account for my County Party?
- If you are a precinct chair contact your county chair, otherwise fill out a VAN ticket form here: txdem.co/data-help
- Once you submit your request, the TDP Data team respond within 1 business day.
- Once your account is created you are good to go!
- Log in to your VAN account, and
- Set up 2 Factor Authentication.
- To log in:
- Go to texasvan.com,
- Click Login with Action ID.
- For more information on critical cyber-security steps we can take for VAN and for protecting our organization’s data in today’s world, please visit: txdem.co/Cyber-Security.
- See txdem.co/2fa for more help on Action ID and 2 Factor Authentication.
How does VAN help my County Party?
- Find Democratic voters in your County
- VAN allows you to cut lists based on geography and various partisan models.
- Register folks who moved into your County
- VAN is regularly updated with National Change of Address (NCOA) information, so you can see likely Democrats who have moved into your county and need to update their registration and/or register to vote.
- Contact voters through a block walk or phone bank
- VAN integrates with canvassing (MiniVAN) and phone bank software (VPB).
- Both are included with your VAN contract.
How can I learn how to use VAN?
Once you sign up for VAN, you will receive access to myriad training options, including:
- Online courses through Training Platform
- Training Platform Help: txdem.co/TrainingPlatformOverview
- As county chair we recommend you take the following courses on our online learning platform:
- VAN Learning Pathway, and
- VAN Administration
- TDP VAN FAQ
- This is a living document, that is constantly updated with latest information and best practices when using VAN
- Social media and VAN community building resources
- Slack channel: online messaging platform to collaborate with other activists
- Say hello in #van-users and #training
- Texas VAN Facebook Group
- Slack channel: online messaging platform to collaborate with other activists
- A comprehensive list of all data & VAN resources
- If you can’t find what you’re looking for, send the TDP Data Team a help ticket at txdem.co/data-help
- Not sure where to get VAN Help? Checkout this flow chart
I’m in VAN, and I see two tabs: My Voters and My Campaign. What’s up with those and how are they different?
- There are two sides to VAN: My Voters and My Campaign
- My Voters houses the permanent voterfile whereas, My Campaign is unique to your own campaign
- My Campaign houses powerful volunteer management & Event tools
Okay, this is great, but it’s a lot. I just want to start blockwalking, calling, and registering voters right away without figuring how to use VAN?!
Go here:
I think phone banking makes sense as a priority for our County right now. How do I do that?