I’ve always thought that it would be very cool to build a database of voting records for members of Congress, but I was hampered by the fact that I don’t know diddly squat about building databases and I couldn’t name 15 members of Congress if you spotted me 12 of them. Still, it’s a cool idea.
Well, the Washington Post has done it. One more get-rich-not-so-quick idea down the drain!
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Befuddled 
Not so fast, Jon! WaPo does the database thing, but they don’t make the data very interesting — where are the graphs, where are the charts?
Also, where is the local angle: Why not do this for state government? Think if you could build a platform for statistical analysis of state legislators, modifiable to adapt to each state, that displayed stuff like absentee rates, [not sure what else would be interesting here, this is off the cuff right now].
Also, for more explanation of this, here’s the blog entry of the guy who’s involved in this: http://www.holovaty.com/blog/archive/2005/12/05/1513
Hey Joe,
Thanks for the comment. I’d thought about the local angle too, and I was actually wondering if anyone had done that somewhere in the US.
I hadn’t thought about the graphical representation and I agree that it needs to be made more interesting. Right now it’s a lot of raw data with a few query choices, but that’s about it. Hopefully they’ll do more with it.
One thing I thought of in looking at their data was a report showing how often someone votes with his or her party. I was going to calculate Virginia Foxx’s record in that way but it was going to take longer than I wanted to spend. Probably something I’ll do when I get bored.
Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out.
Maybe you guys can do something on the local level, say starting with the City Council and County Board of Commissioners and then working up to the state level?
Once upon a time I paid the NCBOE $25 for all the voter records in the state going back ten years. I have them now and have constructed a database app for use by candidates. I was planning on doing this as a business, but as yet, have not managed to get any attention. You are welcome to look at it. Just let me know what records you want.
I’d love to look at it….sounds like it would be of interest to candidates, journalists, advocates, lobbyists, etc. Do you know of anyone else doing anything like it?
Oh yeah. There are internet companies that charge $300 per month for 10,000 voters and they keep the data when you stop paying.
My app is designed to stay with the candidate throughout his career, allowing him/her/it to log comments of Voter Contact. The result can be a rich depository of personally developed intel.
Of course, the Dems and Reps have a big internet app you can hook into. My idea was to hit candidates at lower levels, for whom such aids are unavailable.
I sent letters to all the Rep NC House nonincumbent candidates in the last election. I should have aimed lower as they are assailed with mail from the big guys.
My product is perfect for local elections.
I think I understand a little better now. It sounds a little like a contact management system, but with different functionality and possibly more intelligence data tied in. Does that sound about right?
Some challenges would seem to be the lack of money that the locals have and a learning curve. Maybe the model is the IBM model; sell the system on the cheap (subscription model at say $20/month) and then offer paid consulting on its uses. Their own staffs (if they have staffers) might not be happy with having another hired gun, but then maybe you could position yourself as their adjunct as well.
One good sales tool might be a free demo/seminar. Get someone to volunteer space and then maybe pay for some doughnuts and coffee. Just a thought.
I am not a pol and I don’t think I want to be one.
In the end, I have decided to give it away as a marketing tool. Tell me what you want and I’ll send it to you.
John, to pick up the conversation again: Doing it on a local level would be interesting, and it’s a project that once it gets off the ground could be maintained by the beat reporters (heheh). There’s so much information that passes through local government, through people living near each other — there’s so much potential to do some cool stuff with it.