What is “The VAN”? 

When someone refers to “The VAN”, they are referring to an online database called VoteBuilder. It is the database that precinct chairs use to access voter data and track information at the precinct level, from phone calls, canvassing, and events. 

VoteBuilder is built and maintained by NGP VAN, Inc. (formerly Voter Activation Network). They are a private company that acquires voting information from all of the states and counties in the U.S., as well as demographic and propensity scores from private think tanks, and makes it accessible anywhere to users with security permissions. 

State and county parties, as well as candidates and campaigns, purchase access to VoteBuilder. Candidates and campaigns can use this information to generate reports and analysis for field efforts. Precinct chairs use this information to target voters and identify volunteers, and to track precinct-level events. VoteBuilder includes tools that help the precinct chair to visualize their precinct and divide it into areas (or “turfs”) for building neighborhood teams. 

TCDP precinct chairs are assigned a VAN Account Name or an Action ID, and a Password, for access to the database. 

The TCDP Precinct Chair Training & Support committee provides VAN training for precinct chairs, and for volunteers approved to have access by their precinct chairs.