Voter data
North Carolina voter file: how to use it for a local campaign
The State Board publishes voter registration and voter history files. Here is what each file can tell a campaign and how to turn them into a usable starting list.
What to do first
- The registration file tells you who is registered and where they live. The voter history file records participation, not how anyone voted.
- Both files update weekly, but a statewide download still needs filtering before it helps a local campaign.
- Start with your race geography and a clear purpose for the list. Do not begin by downloading everything.
Start with the two state files
Use the registration file for voters and districts, then use voter history to understand past participation.
The voter registration file includes a voter’s status, party affiliation, address, county, precinct, and available district fields. It does not include vote history.
The voter history file has one record for each election a voter participated in during the period it covers. It includes the election, county, precinct, and voting method. It does not show how the person voted or which candidate they supported.
Set the boundary before you filter
A useful campaign list starts with the voters who can actually vote in your race.
- Choose the office and district first. A countywide sheriff race, a school board district, and a state House district need different boundaries.
- Keep active registered voters in that boundary. Check precinct and district fields against your county board if anything looks unfamiliar.
- Decide what the list is for. An introduction list, a volunteer walk list, and an early-vote follow-up list should not use the same filters.
Use past participation carefully
Voter history helps you decide who to reach first. It is not a prediction of support.
A voter who participated in several comparable elections is more likely to be reachable for a turnout program than someone with no recent participation. That can help you prioritize limited volunteer time.
Do not turn a participation record into a claim about who a voter supports. Learn support through conversations, not by treating party registration or vote history as an answer.
Keep the list useful and secure
Give volunteers only what they need for the work in front of them, and keep campaign data out of personal spreadsheets and group chats.
A raw statewide download is not a field plan. It needs race boundaries, a purpose, and a manageable route before it is useful to a campaign.
Competitive Campaigns starts with the office and district, then helps an approved campaign build a voter list and print a walk sheet for the people doing the work.
Use this in your campaign plan
Choose your race, build a practical plan, and work from the same voter data as your campaign gets organized.
Request access to build your campaign listNew accounts are reviewed before access is granted. Competitive Campaigns serves Democratic and progressive campaigns in North Carolina.
Check the source
These pages rely on the following public sources.