Political Data

With the advent of modern voter file platforms by folks like Catalist, NGP VAN, Targetsmart, NationBuilder, and L2, campaigns now have direct access to the same voter data and models to make strategic targeting decisions. Campaign staff can see the same scores, turnout models, and targeting tools that are used by the professionals.

But all of these scores and numbers can feel intimidating if you’re new to voter data. If this is your first time digging in, here are some practical tips for effective Democratic direct mail targeting.

When used right, the power of advocacy storytelling with data can help move your issue forward in a compelling way; when used wrong, it can make your issue more complex than it is and put your issue at the back of the pack. Learn how to effectively incorporate data into your advocacy storytelling and bring clarity and impact to your message. 

Advanced micro-targeting can be the tactical advantage you need to win your campaign. Before delving into micro-targeting, voter modeling, and other advanced-targeting, let’s begin by defining targeting to ensure we’re all on the same page. This process is crucial for all campaigns-candidates, ballot initiatives, independent expenditure, and more.

Nathaniel Pearlman hosts The Great Battlefield Podcast where he talks to political entrepreneurs and other leaders in the world of progressive politics. He also founded Graphicacy, a company that helps organizations present their data in informative and persuasive ways; Timeplots which sells informative graphic products; Leverfund, a nonprofit fighting poverty in the DC area; and, NGP Software (now NGP VAN), which provides much of the Democratic Party’s technology for fundraising compliance and voter engagement. Nathaniel Pearlman served as the chief technology officer for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. We chatted with him recently.

On any campaign, having access to good voter file is important. For good reason, the trend on most modern political campaigns has been to be data driven. But there are many pitfalls to avoid when using political data and a lot of ways that political data can go wrong. So it’s important that there’s always a human on the other end of that data asking questions and using reason instead of just taking the data at its face value. Below are a few top tips on how to successfully use political campaign data.

One of the biggest benefits digital advertising can bring to a campaign is data. Unlike TV and mail, you can hone in on your targets, pay attention to metrics mid-campaign and adjust as necessary, and analyze what worked and what didn’t when the campaign is over.

For political organizers, data entry and turf cutting are the two most likely tasks that will be keeping you up late into the night. Unlike cutting turf, which can be strangely comforting, data entry is only really enjoyable when it is complete. So to help out political organizers still in the field we have compiled a short list of tips to make data entry a bit easier.