Anna has a long post about the Texas Democratic Party charging candidates for access to its voter database file. I'm not as convinced as she that this is a bad thing, and I don't think the prices they ask are excessive, but I do agree that the way they've gone about implementing this new policy is not good. I also agree that on the heels of the generally positive convention in Fort Worth, a better approach might have been to solicit support from the TDP membership to cover the costs of this service so they could keep it free for candidates. Finally, if it really is the case that data from the 2005 Constitutional amendment referendum and the 2006 primary are not available in the database, then whoever made the decision not to include them needs to be removed from oversight of this data. There's no excuse for that.
Anyway. Read what she says and see what you think.
UPDATE: From Phillip in the comments:
Charles -- don't know if you want to make an update or not, but the 2005 Constitutional amendment referendum and the 2006 primary data are in the voter file for over 80% of the counties, including all the ones that submit that information electronically. The TDP is constantly updating the other information (which is submitted in hard copies). Just an FYI.
As a sustaining member of the Party, I have access to the TDP database. Become a sustaining member and you'll get the access. The new voter file has a cost of a few hundred grand. I've seen the voter file and I got the training. This information will dramatically change the way we campaign in Texas. Candidates paying $150 for the voter file instead of paying a consultant $10K to get the info for them is very cost effective.
Posted by: Marie on June 21, 2006 9:20 AMCan I bill the TDP for using my data point? It cost me money to generate it.
Posted by: Charles Hixon on June 21, 2006 10:30 AMI am a precinct chair and have access to my precinct. My club has requested access to the precincts in our area.
I don't see anything wrong with charging, but it should be on a sliding scale.
Posted by: John Cobarruvias on June 21, 2006 1:54 PMUgh.
As a voter, and not as a candidate, I will say that voter database files and the proliferation of annoying phone calls and tons of election junk, turns me completely off to the political process.
I am on a "DO NOT CALL" list but annoying political people don't have to abide by the list so they can wake my kids up from their naps and interrupt my dinner (usually to blather on a political opinion that I completely disagree with).
I get tons of junk mail from George Bush AND Hilary Clinton, and I found that the more politically active you are, the more crud you get.
When will it end? I swear, I am just about at the point where I will vote for the party that figures out a way for me not to be bombarded with this politcal pollution.
Charles -- don't know if you want to make an update or not, but the 2005 Constitutional amendment referendum and the 2006 primary data are in the voter file for over 80% of the counties, including all the ones that submit that information electronically. The TDP is constantly updating the other information (which is submitted in hard copies). Just an FYI.
Posted by: Phillip Martin on June 22, 2006 12:22 PM