Custom Fields in UpVote
Capture the information your campaign needs, then use it to guide conversations, target follow-up, and build useful reports.
Custom fields add campaign-specific information to voter records. Use them for data supplied by your provider, such as party or ballot status, and information volunteers collect through conversations, such as a vote plan.
Choose what you need to track
Data you already have
Populate fields from voter-file or election-office updates. Examples include party, voter registration status, and vote-by-mail status.
Answers your team collects
Ask volunteers or callers to record relevant responses, such as vote plan, candidate preference, or interest in volunteering.
Start with fields your team will actually use for an outreach decision or report. Keep names short and explain what each answer means.
1. Add a custom field
- Open Custom Fields in the Admin Portal.
- Click Add Custom Field.
- Choose a Field Type and enter a clear Field Name.
- Choose the display and response settings described below.
- For a dropdown, enter each New Option Description and use Add Option. Add at least two options.
- Review the field and click Save.
| Type | When to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drop Down | A consistent set of answers for filtering and reporting | Vote Plan |
| Checkbox | A simple checked or unchecked item | Requested follow-up |
| Free Text | A short answer that needs flexibility | Preferred callback time |
| Date | A calendar date | Date Last Voted |
Examples are suggestions for your campaign, not fields created automatically.
2. Choose where the field appears
The current field editor offers four separate settings:
| Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Display in voter details | Show the field in the voter details view. |
| Display in Outreach page | Make the information visible on the Outreach page. |
| Show on contact match | Show the field during Contact Match. |
| Prompt response when adding a contact | Prompt for an answer as a contact is added. |
Display and prompting are different choices. Show useful background information, such as uploaded party data, where it helps volunteers. Use response prompts for questions you want volunteers to answer. Avoid adding unnecessary questions to the contact-addition flow.
3. Arrange fields in a helpful order
On Manage Custom Fields, use the drag handle on the left side of a row to move a field. The table order is the order users see in the app.
The order saves automatically after dragging. Put the most useful information and questions first. To review an existing field’s settings, open its More Details link.
4. Update field values
Update one voter
Open the voter’s record in the Admin Portal, or the relevant field in the app when available. Enter the response and save. Record what the person actually tells you; an empty or uncertain answer should not be treated as confirmed support.
Update many voters through Upload Center
- Open Upload Center and start an Excel or CSV upload.
- Choose Update custom fields or Update Multiple Custom Fields, as appropriate.
- Select how to match records, preferably using Voter ID when your file contains it.
- Select the custom fields to update and map the file’s columns as prompted.
- Review the preview carefully before approving the upload.
- After processing, open Upload Details to review results and errors, then spot-check several voter records.
See the Upload Center guide for the full workflow.
Use custom fields to focus your organizing
Combine custom fields with other filters in Advanced Search. For example, find likely supporters with a requested mail ballot who still need a vote plan, then coordinate the appropriate follow-up.
Use the same field definitions across your team so answers stay consistent. Where useful, build saved searches into custom dashboard graphs.
Keep reported plans separate from voting records. A person’s stated vote plan is information collected through a conversation. It is not proof that a ballot was cast or returned. Keep official ballot updates in clearly named fields and follow your campaign’s instructions for reporting vote status.
Watch: Create Your First Custom Field
Follow the tutorial for a walkthrough of creating a custom field. Some labels and settings may differ from the current interface; use the steps above for the latest options.
Common questions
Why use a dropdown instead of free text?
Dropdowns keep responses consistent, making segments and reports easier to interpret. Use free text when a fixed set of choices would not fit the answer.
How many options does a dropdown need?
The current editor requires at least two options. Use New Option Description and Add Option to build the list.
Does reordering fields require a separate save?
No. The Manage Custom Fields page saves the display order automatically after you drag a row.