Importing data from other sources 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 itself, rather than from the state or party data. 
• Lists of volunteers or donors
• Lists of precinct chairs

How to bulk import data into RunningMate:

• After downloading a sample dataset, 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, change the state Voter ID column header to say id (lowercase)
• Add the other 10 Civitech columns: 
  • 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.
• 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.

More detailed instructions on how to do this is: 

Step 1: Obtain your list. Whether it is from the Party, the county elections department, or a list of donors. 

Step 2: Ensure the list includes each person’s state voter file ID. 

Step 3: Be sure the column-headers in blue below are included in your sheet, with the same formatting (lower case, underscores instead of spaces) 

The column-headers to include are: 

• id 
• current_support_score
• new_support_score
• current_tags
• new_tag_1
• new_tag_2
• new_tag_3
• new_tag_4
• new_tag_5

Rename the existing column-header for the state voter file ID with Civitech’s lowercase “id”. 

Add the remaining 8 columns into the sheet. 

Tags and Support Scores

If there is a column that exists in the data that you want to use as a tag in RunningMate, label that column header 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 doc: Importing your Custom Tags and Support Scores. 1 are Strong Supporters, 5 are 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
  • 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.