Precinct Chair Training: 2. Using the Voter Activation Network (VAN)

1. Precinct Chair Training:2. Using the Voter Activation Network (VAN) Bexar County Democratic Party http://bexardemocrats.org Carla Vela, County Chair

2. Voter Activation Network (VAN) • Database of all registered voters • Information provided on voter registration form • Voter History • Outside data purchased by VAN • Precinct Chair’s contribution • Manually inputted data from canvassing • One-on-one VAN training is available through the BCDP office

3. Precinct Chair’s VAN Input • Be on the lookout for changes of address. • But VAN is a database of registered voters, and those who have moved need to register to vote at their new address. • Update phone numbers and e-mail addresses • Enter Survey Responses and Activist Codes • Enter Notes: Observed information • Political yard signs or bumper stickers • Union, military, student affiliation • Disability: ramps, license plates, etc.

4. Voter Activation Network (VAN) Registration

5. VAN: The Main Menu

6. VAN: Quick Look Uphttp://texasvan.com/ • Use the Quick Look Up feature to find and correct information for a single voter.

7. VAN: Quick Look Uphttp://texasvan.com/ • If you often look at the same fields, click on “Save Page Layout” and you won’t need to open them each time.

8. VAN: Create a New Listhttp://texasvan.com/ • Your list can include (1) every voter in your precinct, or (2) those who match certain criteria.

9. VAN: Create a New Listhttp://texasvan.com/ • For EVERY voter in your precinct, click on “Clear All Fields” and then “Search.” • For a more select list, choose the critera, then click on “Search.”

10. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/ • After you have a list selected, click on “Reports.” • Our favorite report format for blockwalking is called “Survey Answer Sheet with Notes.” • It’s a blockwalking list, so for “source” choose “Walking.” • To save paper, you might uncheck the “Page breaks.” • Click on “Next.”

11. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/

12. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/ • Next you will see a “Page Setup” box. • VAN will give instructions on changing the margins, header, footer, and orientation for your internet browser so that your report will print correctly. • Choose “Landscape” orientation. • You might take note of the default margins and header that you had been using with your internet browser so that you can set them back afterward. (Unless you actually LIKE having all the webpages you print coming out in landscape format!)

13. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/

14. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/ What the Blockwalking List includes: Name Age Gender Phone Precinct convention participant (X = whichever criterion has been selected for the report) Voting history Y = Election day, E = Early voting, M = Mail-in ballot, D = Democratic primary, R = Republican primary

15. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/ TIP: For voters who have a history of always voting in the Republican Primary, don’t make contact with them. We don’t want to remind them to vote! TIP #2: Don’t skip the houses that aren’t on the list. Canvass, and if they lean Democratic or are independent, have them register to vote!

16. VAN: Make a Blockwalking List (“Report”) http://texasvan.com/ What to record on the Blockwalking List: Will vote in November? Party: Democratic, Republican, or Uncertain Voter registration cards offered: (how many) Needs application to vote by mail? Phone Campaign sign needed? (which candidate?) or observed?

17. VAN: Entering the canvassing data http://texasvan.com/ • Enter the canvassing information as a “Survey Response.” • Use your name as the “Canvasser.” • Use the Survey Question “2008 Action: Vote in Nov 08?” and enter the Response. Click on Save.

18. VAN: Entering the canvassing data http://texasvan.com/ • Enter the canvassing information as a “Survey Response.” • Use your name as the “Canvasser.” • Use the Survey Question “2008 Action: Party Affiliation” and enter the Response. Click on Save.

19. VAN: Using the canvassing data • Later in the campaign cycle you will make blockwalking lists for Persuasion and for GOTV. • Criteria for Persuasion: Party Affiliation = Independent, and Vote in Nov 08 = Yes or Undecided • Criteria for GOTV: Party Affiliation = Democratic or Independent, and Vote in Nov 08 = Undecided • Persuasion and GOTV take extra work, but THAT’S HOW DEMOCRATS WIN! • Thanks to your work, candidates using VAN will have the most accurate lists, so that they can use their campaign money more effectively. • IT’S ALL UP TO YOU AND YOUR PRECINCT TEAM!

20. Thank You for working for democracy!