Grassroots canvassing tech innovations - Democracy Labs (www.TheDemLabs.org)

	A	B	C	D	E
1	Innovation	Need	Details	Example	Link
2	Data independence	Voter Files contain details of voters but little about people who are currently unregistered. Organizers also need to be able to canvass people from other lists such as students, nurses, retirees...	Canvassing works with any list of addresses - a Voter file or some other list with or without a name or VAN ID. The information collected can be exported and used in another system such as a voter file or mailing system.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
3	Canvas unregistered voters	Canvassing houses without a registered voter improves the odds of registering more voters. Such houses are identified through artifical intelligence (AI) based list matching technology.	Canvassers can be assigned houses to contact which do not currently have a registered voter.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/07/23/find-and-canvas-unregistered-voters-with-mapping-software/
4	Improve targeting	Overlay demographic information on maps for better canvassing targetting. Select areas to canvas based on selected demographic criteria.	Overlay demographic information on maps for better canvassing targetting. Select areas to canvas based on selected demographic criteria.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/12/08/canvas-smarter-enhance-voter-files-with-targeting-data-and-maps/
5	Ease of use	Grassroots groups are often powered by part-time volunteers so solutions have to be easy to learn and use.	Volunteer canvassers should be able to learn and use the canvassing app quickly. Canvassers can use the app immediately without having to instal any software.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
6	Survey design	Organizers need to be able to easily adapt survey questions based on the area being canvassed and the information being collected.	Survey questions can be answered by either selecting from multiple choice questions or typing in free form answers.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
7	Usefulness	It's important to be able to show users only the information they need. Campaign managers need to see the big picture while canvassers need to see a different information.	Canvassers can choose what information should be displayed on the map, such as a list of all the houses to be canvassed, houses for follow-up discussion or some other criteria.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
8	Instant updates	Organizers can better manage a campaign if they can immediately see the progress of canvassing efforts and the data being collected. This lets them revise their plans and reassign volunteers to where they are most needed.	The information collected by canvassers is shown immediately to other canvassers and to campaign organizers. Canvassers can see if a house has been contacted, so it is not contacted a second time by mistake.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
9	Turf cutting	Organizers can specify how many houses each canvasser should contact and assign areas close to them.	Organizers can allocate houses to canvass to volunteers and also provide walking routes to reduce travel times.		https://thedemlabs.org/2020/11/24/how-to-design-smart-route-plans-for-canvassing-campaigns-and-non-profits/
10	Deep canvassing	Deep canvassing involves engaging voters in a conversation where they share personal experiences around an issue. It involves several interactions between a canvasser and a voter, so it's helpful to review what was discussed in the last meeting.	Meeting notes from prior interactions are saved and easily reviewed by canvassers in subsequent sessions.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
11	Better follow up	Canvassing provides details on how people should be followed up with. These results are mapped immediately to plan the next step.	Canvassers can indicate what follow-up action is required. This allows organizers to select and only display specific houses based on the action to be taken.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
12	Online help	Most grassroots groups rely on part-time volunteers who do not have a lot of free time. This makes it important for the apps they will be using to be easy to use and include build in instructions.	Tips on how to use the canvassing app are built into the app and can be updated as needed. This makes it easier to onboard new volunteers to canvas.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
13	Search for addresses	Canvassers are more productive when they can quickly look up details for an address or individual to contact.	Canvassers can search the map for any address and immediately zoom to that area.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
14	Affordability	Grassroots groups are typically underfunded and need solutions that are either free or very affordable.	Using existing commercial software lowers the cost of the canvassing app regardless of the the number of canvassers using it.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
15	Security	It is important to safeguard the privacy of lists and data collected. Canvassers should only be able to update some information.	Access to the canvassing app is password restricted. Canvassers are restricted to enter information only for specific survey questions.		https://thedemlabs.org/2021/11/03/canvas-better-with-smarter-software-to-register-more-voters-and-mobilize-supporters/
16	Source: Democracy Labs	www.TheDemLabs.org
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