In Cuyahoga County, Only Endorsed Dems Could Get Access to Voter Database. Not Anymore.

This week, the Ohio Democratic Party instituted new rules regarding access to its statewide voter database. Hosted on the VoteBuilder platform, the database gives local Democratic parties and candidates access to granular voter information that's indispensable for canvassing and organizing during campaigns. Nationwide, the VoteBuilder technology is considered the "gold standard" for both voter contact and volunteer management.

In the past, access to this trove of data had been restricted to candidates endorsed by local Democratic parties. And in Cuyahoga County, this was one of many reasons why securing the Democratic Party endorsement was so crucial.

ODP has now changed its rules. It has done so, it says, to "ensure quality access, fair cost, accountable use, and a shared commitment to good data practices" across Ohio.

In a Wednesday memo, ODP Chair Elizabeth Walters described the guidelines moving forward. All county parties would receive access to VoteBuilder for free but would not be allowed to extend their free access to preferred candidates. Any candidate, endorsed or not, would be allowed access for a fee. Revenue from those fees would then be reinvested into a fund to support activities of county parties.

Read more: https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2022/01/21/in-cuyahoga-county-only-endorsed-dems-could-get-access-to-voter-database-not-anymore