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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 not
by aamar 11y 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.
- occsceo 11y agoif 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_marshall 11y agoCan 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.
- epaulson 11y agoHere's a good list: http://nationbuilder.com/voterdata http://nationbuilder.com/voterdata
- occsceo 11y agoa good overview, yes. For example, NY says "Election purposes only", but fails to mention that each infraction is a misdemeanor. And, Ohio is wrong. Ohio is campaign/election use only, also with the misdemeanor kicker.
- occsceo 11y agoThe first question I ask people when talking about this project is, "Do you know your voter information is public?" About 85% are shocked and in horror that this information is available. Outside of a campaign, it is hard to say if the public would support it. I've chatted with a two different lawyers over here in Ohio...and both have advised strict security and election/campaign use only.