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0 pointsoccsceo10y ago0 comments

I've been working on a project like this for some time now - and wresting with whether I want to go the community-based vs. closed source model.

The problems listed below are pretty exact: huge data sets, lots of cleaning and normalizing, and the snail mail/cd problem is real. Additionally, I'd note that ~40% of the states [somehow] charge for the data...it takes six digits to get a snapshot of all 50 states - and certain states (looking at you FL) say that they do not store the historical, meaning you have to connect with the local BoE's to aggregate the data.

A part of me [now] wants to open source this because of the DNC's actions.

0 comments

toomuchtodo10y ago

> A part of me [now] wants to open source this because of the DNC's actions.

Was my thought exactly. Aggregate, then open.

sethbannon10y ago

Would love to hear more and see if we can't collaborate on this. My email is seth AT amicushq DOT com.

occsceoOP10y ago

i'll fire an email your way shortly. but yea, a conversation would be great.

michael_fine10y ago

Not to pollute the thread, but I'm also really interested in this, I've worked at both the Clinton campaign and NGP VAN and it seems like a very worthwhile pursuit. If you're adding people, my email is in my profile.

legutierr10y ago

I've also wanted to get involved in a open voterfile project like yours for a very long time. I'd love to connect as well. My email's my username at gmail, if you're interested.

aamar10y ago

If you open it up with addresses/phone/email-addresses, beware that the main users may be commercial marketers (i.e. junk mail senders), not campaigns. Also note that many states license the data with a restriction that it only be used for election purposes.

occsceoOP10y ago

if I define open as, "your campaign would have to register and be verified"...then it abides by the state/fed rules for these datasets. I can't just throw the data on github.

jeff_marshall10y ago

Can you comment on this a bit?

It's not obvious to me how open access to this data would be intrinsicly bad, but I suppose that relies on the assumption that it's equally available to all parties (which may not (definitely not?)) be the case.

any pointers to the statuatory/regulatory guidelines would be appreciated.

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0 pointsoccsceo10y ago0 comments

I've been working on a project like this for some time now - and wresting with whether I want to go the community-based vs. closed source model.

A part of me [now] wants to open source this because of the DNC's actions.

0 comments

toomuchtodo10y ago

> A part of me [now] wants to open source this because of the DNC's actions.

Was my thought exactly. Aggregate, then open.

sethbannon10y ago

Would love to hear more and see if we can't collaborate on this. My email is seth AT amicushq DOT com.

occsceoOP10y ago

i'll fire an email your way shortly. but yea, a conversation would be great.

michael_fine10y ago

legutierr10y ago

I've also wanted to get involved in a open voterfile project like yours for a very long time. I'd love to connect as well. My email's my username at gmail, if you're interested.

aamar10y ago

occsceoOP10y ago

if I define open as, "your campaign would have to register and be verified"...then it abides by the state/fed rules for these datasets. I can't just throw the data on github.

jeff_marshall10y ago

Can you comment on this a bit?

any pointers to the statuatory/regulatory guidelines would be appreciated.

2 more replies

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse