Win Elections with Data

I’m Carolyn Carlson, a political consultant.  During middle school, I developed an interest and passion toward government affairs and a joy for learning more about politics.  I have been able to merge these two interests in my current career – providing quality customer service, along with my knowledge of elections and expertise in voter files.

For the past five years, I have sold voter file data including names and addresses of registered voters, residential phone numbers, email addresses matched to voter files, and other assorted requests such as micro-targeting demographics or cell phone matching.

I’ve worked with small local races to high profile campaigns.  One of my clients ran for a local non-partisan school board position, and she was ecstatic when she won her election in a mid-Atlantic state.   In September 2008, I was asked to help a national campaign in get-out-the-vote and organizing volunteers in the last 60 days of the election.  I received an email from a U.S. Senate staff member who thanked me for my ongoing service and for “playing a pivotal role in getting our email list to truly impressive and effective size.”

The elections in 2010 represent many challenges. It’s the first midterm of the party in power for the White House.  Democrats are trying to hold their own House and Senate seats, while Republicans have a chance and opportunity for big, sweeping change.  Only time will tell how far the pendulum will  swing.

For a candidate running for an elected office, this is a chance to update data that has grown old over time.  Voters everywhere move, change contact information, and may need NCOA (National Change of Address).  The more a campaign is proactive in updating its voter file data records, the better off they are, as time management is a factor in reaching out to voters or volunteers in late October.

I can be a facilitator and help a winning campaign make a difference by identifying voters and donors with current contact information.  These kinds of specific efforts determine who crosses the finish line first on Tuesday, November 2 where close races are determined by just a handful of voters.

This is my first communication and dialogue which I’d like to share with my readers.