Distributed Canvassing: A “How To”


Canvassing has NEVER been simpler! With the Distributed Canvassing feature in TexasVAN and MiniVAN, campaigns can create one list of voter targets for canvassing, share one code with any volunteer with a smartphone, and then empower that volunteer at the doors of targets closest to them.


How to use a Distributed Canvassing List in MiniVAN

  1. Turn on your “location services” settings on your iPhone or Android smartphone.

  2. On either iPhone or Android smartphone, download MiniVAN and create an ActionID. (Free, and just takes a couple of minutes).

  3. Enter your Distributed Canvassing MiniVAN list number.

  4. You’ll be assigned voters based on your geographic location. 

  5. Start knocking and entering data!


How to create a Distributed Canvass

  1. Create your voter search in “Create a New List”

    1. Ensure your search in “Create a New List” uses either:

      1.  a TDP Target from txdem.co/TDP-Targets that is dynamic in removing people who have already been attempted/canvassed.

      2. If this is a one-step search., then,

        1. then go to the canvass status row and click on exclude in the dropdown

        2. Make the contact type of walk in the dropdown

        3. Make the Date canvassed of whatever day you originally created the list i.e. today’s date

        4. If you only want to include data that is from your committee, keep the default in committee, but if you want to use public canvassing data from outside your committee, make that dropdown blank

      3. Or if this is a multistep search, then,

        1. Make the last step of the all the steps in the search a step of narrow by clicking on the add a step button when you are on what will be the second to last step and selecting “Narrow people”

        2. then go to the canvass status row and click on exclude in the dropdown

        3. Make the contact type of walk in the dropdown

        4. Make the Date canvassed of whatever day you originally created the list i.e. today’s date

        5. If you only want to include data that is from your committee, keep the default in committee, but if you want to use public canvassing data from outside your committee, make that dropdown blank

        6. Do not specify a specific Canvass Result, unless you only want to exclude people who have a specific result, e.g. Moved or Refused.

  2. Hit Run Search, then when you click on “Save List As” make sure you select to create a Saved Search (not the “fixed” Saved List)

  3. Click “MiniVAN” then, “MiniVAN Distributed Canvassing”, found under Canvassing on the Main Menu

  4. On the top right, you’ll see a box called “Add New Distributed Canvass”, click on that

  5. You’ll be prompted to:

    1. name your canvass,

    2. pick how many doors you want each canvasser to take from the list,

    3. how many days you want the doors to be “checked out”,

    4. the mile radius of distance doors can be selected from

    5. select an applicable MiniVAN campaign

    6. select your previously saved list or search.  

  6. Click “Create”, copy down the list number, and share widely!