Matching can include something as basic as adding telephone numbers or postal information to a voter file. It includes updating canvass information and matching membership files to voter files. Generally matching falls into the following three types.

File Matching of Private Files

Many organizations wish to enhance their membership files by knowing which of their members are registered to vote. For those who are registered they are interested in knowing things like their stated political party affiliation, legislative districts of residence, telephone number, history of past voting, etc. These organizations submit their membership lists to VCS to have them matched against VCS’s voter file database. The list is matched and returned with each member record containing an indication of whether or not they registered. If registered, other pertinent information from the voter file is also appended to their record. This allows the organization to organize members for political action based on their political affiliation and past participation. They can also approach non-registered members about registering to vote and becoming politically active.

VCS is very experienced in matching techniques for this task. Their standard matching algorithm is proprietary and generally recognized as the most accurate matching algorithm among voter file vendors. They have the ability to “loosen” the match to any in the household, rather than having to match a specific individual. Special algorithms are available for birth date and other unusual match fields.

After a match has taken place, all data is returned to the organization. It will be in the form of their file as it was submitted, with the additional voter file information appended to those records that match. We recognize the sensitivity of membership data, so we are very careful to safeguard these private files. The files are under our constant control within our firewall system while the matching is being done; then all copies are destroyed after the project is completed.

We’ll be glad to give you a quote on a matching project. The maximum price for a nationwide match of a membership file of up to three million names is $15,000. Matching local files start at a few hundred dollars.

Enhancing Voter Files with Additional Information

VCS matches a number of special information files against all of its voter files as a standard part of preparing them for usage. These include matching against a nationwide telephone number DataBase updated quarterly; current US Postal Information for ZIP+4 and Carrier Route Coding (CASS certified); 2000 US Census data; email addresses; probable ethnic origin; and gender. In some areas we also sometimes match other local information such as home ownership, hunting and fishing licenses, PTA membership, etc.

Frequently customers will establish a portion of our voter file as their private file and enhance it by matching special information that relates to their specific campaign. These private files are protected within our firewall system and are not available to anyone but the user who set them up.

Updating Canvass Information on Voter Files

Generally canvass information is updated on voter files by matching the files on file ID number. Most update information for posting is uploaded to our web site for processing.

The VCS eCanvass system allows canvass information to be entered directly on-line for voter file update. The information may also be gathered in handheld computers (Palms) and updated automatically through eCanvass.

What ever the matching task VCS has the software and experience to make it simple and easy for you.