Getting Started as a County Chair in VAN
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
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
As county chair we recommend you take the following courses on our online learning platform:
VAN Learning Pathway, and
VAN Administration
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
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?