What is VAN?
VAN (Voter Action Network / Votebuilder) is a database used nationally by Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations to perform voter contact. More specifically, VAN is used as part of campaign voter persuasion and “get out the vote” (GOTV) operations, to reach out to and have conversations with voters.
The Texas Democratic Party maintains an online voter file, the Texas VAN (Voter Activation Network), to empower campaigns and activists with the tools they need to Turn Texas Blue. The VAN is an online database that allows us to organize information about voters and volunteers to ensure we’re targeting the right voters and turning them out to vote. It makes campaigns more efficient and effective and allows campaigns and activists to track their projects and successes.
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This powerful database allows Democrats to ensure that our communities are registered to vote and allows us to encourage everyone to make it to the ballot box—no matter where you live in Texas.
We invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure this data is current, and we are always adding more information with the help of our Texas and national partners. Voter data from every county in the state is in the VAN, like voter registration information and vote history as far back as 2006, including Primary and General Elections. It is supplemented with run-off elections, special elections, and constitutional elections.
Who has access to VAN?​
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County parties, precinct chairs, SDEC members, and other organizations such as Democratic clubs are given access to VAN as representatives and volunteers of the state party to organize their communities. This granting of VAN is a privilege and can be revoked by the TDP at any time.
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Campaigns and other committees pay a fee for access to VAN and must agree to and abide by specific rules in order to continue to have access to the database.
