Importing data into RunningMate

Some users may want to add data lists to RunningMate which did not originate from the tool. These may include: 

• Primary voters - who voted in which primary? These lists are often available months sooner when requested from the county or local elections department itself, than it is from the state or party data. 
• Lists of volunteers or donors
• Lists of precinct chairs
• Spreadsheets your team has used for canvassing that include tags and support scores

How to bulk import data into RunningMate:

• After downloading a sample dataset from RunningMate, decide which columns in your own dataset you would like to add into RunningMate as tags or support scores.
• In the sheet you want to import, be sure the first column is the state Voter File ID - the column header should say id
• Ensure the Civitech columns are included in this order: 
  • id
  • current_voter_registration_intent
  • new_voter_registration_intent
  • current_support_score
  • new_support_score
  • current_tags
  • new_tag_1
  • new_tag_2
  • new_tag_3
  • new_tag_4
  • new_tag_5

• If you need an example of the column headers, create a small list and choose Download File for Contact, or view this template and make a copy for your use.
• Add or move relevant data to the new support score or new tags columns. 
  • Designate strong supporters with a 1 in the new support column, strongly opposed with a 5.
    • Note that the Support Scores you import affect your goals set in Goal Tracker
  • Add relevant data tags that you may wish to use for filtering and cutting lists
• Download the sheet as a CSV
• Upload the CSV into RunningMate via the Data Management tab.
• If there are errors in the upload, it will notify you during the upload process.

Note that the imported Support Scores are an important component for the district and precinct-level goals set in Goal Tracker.

Tags and Support Scores

If there is a column that exists in the data you are importing that you want to use as a tag in RunningMate, add it to the column new_tag_1. (For example democratic primary 2024, volunteer, recurring_donor, etc.)

If you want to mark this list as supporters and have it reflected in your Goal Tracker, use the support scores as listed in this help article: Importing your Custom Tags and Support Scores. 1 means Strong Supporters, 5 is Strongly Opposed. 

Example: 

• You ran a texting campaign and now have a list of people who’ve said they will vote for your candidate. After exporting that list from your instance of TextOut, or another texting platform, filter the responses to positive/supporters
  • Follow the above steps, renaming the state voter ID column, and adding the Civitech columns
    • Alternatively, you can copy the voter IDs and responses from your texting results spreadsheet and paste them into an import template in the appropriate columns.
  • Add 1s to the new support score columns for strong supporters. 5 for strongly opposed
  • Add relevant data tags, following the formatting requirements (no spaces, lowercase, numbers or letters, using only underscores_, dash-, or colon:).

Click on Data Management and Import the list. View the updated populations via the filters on the homepage, or view your progress toward goal with Goal Tracker.