What is a geo-targeted voter list?
A geo-targeted voter list is a set of registered voters filtered by a specific geographic area — a precinct, district, neighborhood, or custom map boundary. Each record typically includes the voter's name, home address, phone number, and email address, along with registration status and sometimes voting history.
What voter data is publicly available?
Voter registration data is collected and maintained by state and county governments. In most states, this data is available to campaigns and political organizations for a fee. The data includes name, address, party registration, and voting history. Phone numbers and email addresses are typically appended from consumer databases by voter data vendors.
Traditional ways to get voter data
Historically, campaigns accessed voter data through state party committees, which license the data from the state and provide it to affiliated campaigns. This process often involves coordination with the state party, waiting for access to be provisioned, and using whatever platform the party supports (typically NGP VAN for Democratic campaigns or PDI for Republican ones).
How cicada.run works
cicada.run takes a different approach. Campaigns sign up, open the map interface, draw any geographic area — a neighborhood, a precinct, a custom radius — and immediately receive verified voter contact data for that area. There is no setup coordination, no waiting for party approval, and no minimum commitment. Contact data includes verified phone numbers, emails, and addresses.
A distinctive feature is travel-time targeting: instead of drawing a geographic shape, campaigns can pull all voters within a 15-minute walk, 10-minute drive, or 20-minute bike ride from any specific address. This is particularly useful for planning door-knocking routes that are logistically realistic rather than just geographically rectangular.
What to look for in a voter data platform
When evaluating voter data access for your campaign, consider: (1) how quickly you can access data after signing up, (2) whether pricing is transparent and predictable, (3) what contact data is included (phone, email, address), and (4) whether the platform includes tools for using the data (canvassing app, call time, list management). For campaigns that need to start contacting voters quickly and without barriers, platforms with immediate access and flat pricing are generally the most practical choice.