This section covers how to access the Vottiv Canvasser App and get set up before joining a canvass. No app store download is required.

Step 1: Open Vottiv in Your Browser

When you arrive at a canvassing event, you’ll typically be given one of the following:

A direct link, or
A QR code to scan

Both options open vottiv.app in your mobile browser.

Step 2: Add the App to Your Home Screen (Recommended)

Before logging in, it’s recommended that you add the Canvasser App to your home screen. This provides the best experience and enables offline canvassing.

On iPhone:

From the page you opened via the link or QR code, tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner
Tap Share
Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen

Once added, the app will appear on your home screen and can be opened like a normal mobile app.

Step 3: Create Your Profile and Log In

Open the app from your home screen and log in.

You’ll be prompted to enter:

First and last name
Email address
Phone number

Tap Sign in to continue.

Step 4: Enable Required Permissions

After logging in, you’ll be prompted to allow permissions that help the app function properly:

Location access to find nearby routes and addresses
Motion and orientation access to improve map navigation

If permissions don’t apply immediately, you may need to fully close and reopen the app after enabling them.

Step 5: Join a Canvass with a 6-Digit Canvass Code

Once you’re logged in and permissions are enabled, you can join a canvass.

To join:

From your dashboard, tap Add new canvass
Enter the 6-digit canvass code provided at the canvassing event
Tap Join canvass

The canvass will then appear on your dashboard and is ready to use.

No Downloads Needed (Progressive Web App)

Vottiv uses progressive web app (PWA) technology, which means:

No app store download is required
The app works offline
Updates happen automatically

Using the Canvassing App

Once you’ve added a canvass, you’re ready to begin canvassing in the field.

What You’ll See After Joining a Canvass

After joining a canvass, you’ll have access to:

Canvasses you’ve added
Assigned routes or available routes nearby
A map view with households and walking paths
Tools for logging interactions and notes

When you start a canvass, you may also see instructions provided by the campaign. Be sure to review these before selecting a route.

All activity syncs automatically when you’re online.

Your Dashboard

The dashboard shows all canvasses you’ve added.

Tap a canvass and select Start canvassing to begin
Tap Add new canvass to enter another canvass code

Voter Lookup: If your user role includes voter lookup permissions, you will also see a Voter Lookup card below the "Add Canvass" button. Tapping this opens the voter search screen.

Select a Route

Canvasses are divided into walkable sections called Canvass Routes.

Routes assigned to you appear at the top
Additional available routes are listed below, sorted by distance
Each route shows completion percentage, distance, and number of households
Select a route and tap Start canvassing

You can also access the Voter Lookup tool from this page by tapping the button at the top of the screen.

Start Canvassing

The first time you open a route, the app will display a brief map tutorial.

Map indicators:

🟣 Purple dots: Households not yet visited
⚫ Dark gray dots: Marked as not home
🔴 Red dots: Declined, unsafe, or inaccessible
⚪ Light gray dots: Completed

The blue line shows the recommended walking path for the route.

At the Door

Tap a household to view additional details, such as:

Distance to the address
Household size
Navigation options (Google Maps)
Voter details (when available)

Tap Open canvass to enter the main canvassing interface.

Quick actions allow you to mark a household as:

Not home
Declined
Complete
Inaccessible

Depending on how the canvass is configured, you may also see options to:

Record support or survey responses
Collect signatures
Leave information
Apply tags
Update contact information
Register voters
Open custom links (such as volunteer sign-ups)
Submit requests (for example, yard signs)

Not all canvasses will include every option.

Working With Others

When multiple people are canvassing at the same time:

Updates from others appear in real time
Completed or updated households sync instantly
Other canvassers appear on the map as orange dots with their names

This helps avoid duplicate work and keeps progress visible.

Location Sharing Privacy

You can control whether your real-time location is visible to other canvassers on their maps via the Share location with team setting.

Where to find it: Open your profile by tapping your avatar in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
Default setting: Enabled (your location is shared with your team).
When disabled: Other canvassers will not see your position on the map, but your location data will still be recorded for route tracking and analytics.

Canvassing Offline

The Canvasser App supports offline use.

All necessary data loads when a canvass is added
Actions are saved locally if service is lost
Data uploads automatically once you reconnect

Voter Lookup Feature

The Voter Lookup feature allows authorized canvassers to search for and view detailed voter information directly from the mobile canvassing app. You can search by name, phone number, or address to view profiles, notes, and tags.

Note: Unlike standard canvassing, Voter Lookup requires an active internet connection and cannot be used offline.

Access Requirements

Voter Lookup is permission-gated. You will only see the Voter Lookup options if your organization role includes the VOTER_LOOKUP or ORGANIZATION_ADMIN permission. Contact your administrator if you believe you should have access.

Smart Search

The search bar uses intelligent input detection to automatically determine what you're searching for:

Input Type	Example	How It's Detected
Name	"John Smith" or "Smith"	Default when no other pattern matches
Phone Number	"555-123-4567"	7+ digits detected
Address	"123 Main St"	Number followed by street suffix (St, Ave, etc.)

A hint will appear below the search bar indicating the detected search type (e.g., "Searching by phone...").

Voter Profiles & Actions

Tapping a search result opens the full voter profile, where you can view:

Basic Info: Name, Age, Party Affiliation, Gender
Location: Full address, County, Precinct
History: Voting history for the last 4 elections

Notes & Tags

Notes: View existing notes from your team or add new ones. Notes are visible to all organization members with lookup access.
Tags: Apply or remove existing organization tags to categorize voters. New tags must be created in the web dashboard.

From the profile, you can also navigate to the voter's address or start a canvass interaction immediately.

Complete Walkthrough Video

Prefer a visual walkthrough?
Watch the complete video for a step-by-step demonstration of accessing the app, joining a canvass, selecting routes, and logging doors.