MiniVAN

MiniVAN for Android is a special “voter contact application” that will revolutionize the way political campaigns and progressive organizations conduct their door-to-door canvassing operations. Field organizers download targeted lists of voters to devices, knock on doors all day without internet, and watch everything sync back to the campaign database without a shuffle of paper lists or late-night data entry sessions. It’s the favoured Democratic campaign tool for field operations at all levels – from local city council races to statewide contests.

A digital turf packet comes with all the essentials

The app provides a complete mobile canvassing solution to replace paper processes. You can download your canvass lists by using your assigned list number. View your territory in map view or list view. GPS integration also allows you to navigate through unfamiliar areas. Your progress is color-coded so you can instantly see how you are doing. Green shows successful contact, yellow no one answered at home and red you didn’t get to the address. You can mark your lit drops and not homes using quick swipe gestures. No additional screens means it keeps things moving quickly when your race against sunset.

This is where the value of the app really is for «grassroots organizing»: entry of data while offline. Even if you lose cell service and have to knock doors all afternoon, you can still log. All information is stored locally in the app and automatically synced back up to the VAN database once you reconnect via wifi or cellular. Every voter record provides access to scripts, complete contact history and a space to add notes about your chats. If the person is not on your list, the search function will allow you to retrieve their details from the database on the doorstep.

The truth about campaign technology in elections

MiniVAN is great for “political field operations,” but it is limited in scope for a good reason. The app functions best for canvassing sessions that are a few hours long, not all-day marathons. Users have reported that if you download overly large lists, the app may crash on devices with limited internal memory. Thus, download only what you need for your current session. The app must be online for the initial download of the list and final sync of data, so you can’t have a full offline experience end to end.

Key capabilities include

– Download targeted lists with voter scripts and contact history.
– Record canvassing outcomes offline when using door knocking app.
– Send data to all VAN databases over a wifi or cellular connection.
– Color-coded markers will help you track progress.
– Look for voters who are not on the list.
– Explore regions with integrated GPS navigation.

“Access Requirements and Market Position”

The app is free to download and use but there’s a catch: it does not include ads or in-app purchases. It requires integration with the subscription-based database services NGP VAN that campaigns and organizations pay for separately. It makes the MiniVAN a tool specialized for ‘political field operations’, not something which casual users download. The tech is built specifically for Democratic and progressive use cases, which helps it dominate the market in that political space but limits its appeal outside that space.

If you run a campaign that’s already in VAN, this is important infrastructure to break down data entry logjams and get voter contact data into the system hours or even days quicker than paper-based workflows. This app will change the way your team operates. If you are currently running field operations for a progressive campaign or organizing effort, use this app to swap out your paper […]