Intro/General Questions:
What endpoints does the Grassroots API key have access to?
/echoes for testing connection. /surveyQuestions for questions. /activistCodes for activist codes. /people for syncing responses. /exportJobs for syncing people to us. /savedLists to see the lists available to us.
What is the workflow of Grassroots Unwired and how will it work with Votebuilder?
Users of Grassroots Unwired use our platform to go through the entire process of running a door-to-door canvass.
Using our website, they will:
create walk lists using our turf cutter
assign those lists to canvassers
organize canvassers into crews
create complex scripts for canvassers to follow
track and manage canvassers when they are in the field
use customized reporting to track and manage the overall effort
Using our mobile app, canvassers will:
Access the list and script they have been assigned for that day
Complete surveys
Record statuses for households where surveys are not completed
When there is an active data connection on the device being used by the canvasser, survey results, statuses, GPS locations, and time stamps are sent to our server in real time
When there is no connectivity, everything collected is stored locally on the device in an encrypted folder until connectivity is regained, at which time the stored data is cleared off the device and sent to the server
Votebuilder works with Grassroots Unwired in the following ways:
Automatic subject import from VAN into GRU
Script synchronization from VAN to GRU (when needed)
Survey and knock data synchronization from GRU to VAN
What voter file (MyVoters) information will be exported?
This depends on what our clients would like to have available to them on our end. At a minimum, we need address, city, state, and zip. Clients will potentially want to have additional information on our end relating to party affiliation, vote history, age, race, and any additional contact info available (cell phone, home phone, email address).
Configuring Grassroots Unwired and VAN for Automatic Subject Import
#1 Getting the API Key and Application Name from NGP VAN
To get started, you will need a VAN API key to link your Grassroots Unwired and VAN accounts. You will need to request the VAN API Key and Application Name (“Grassroots Unwired”) through the VAN support ticketing system directly. While logged into VAN, click on "Submit a Support Request" under the Help & Support section in the right navigation menu (This requires Admin or Voter File Manager permissions).
#2 Enable NGP Van integration in Grassroots Unwired (Modify Customer)
Grassroots Unwired will use the credentials from the previous step to initiate the integration.
#3 Setup NGP Van Folder Permissions
The NGP Van API user needs to be given access to the folder(s) you’ll be using to store your SavedLists. Follow the steps below to grant proper permissions.
Uploading Van Saved Lists into Grassroots Unwired
Once the above settings are complete, Grassroots Unwired will initiate the process of loading the correct lists into the Grassroots Unwired platform.
Sending Data from Grassroots Unwired Back to VAN
Once the steps above are completed, the connection is established and no further manual effort is necessary.
Data can be synced back to VAN in either of the following ways:
Grassroots Unwired can create a schedule at the direction of client that triggers automatic syncs on that schedule. Only records that have NOT been synced since the last sync will be sent (no duplicates)
Client can log into the Grassroots Unwired web portal and click a button that triggers a sync manually. Again, only records that have NOT been synced previously will be sent to VAN.