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Technical Support




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Feel free to contact our Technical Support Team with any software related questions or comments.

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What can be done with the 30 Day Trial Version?

The 30 Day Trial Version of GOTV Campaign Optimizer restricts some functions. You are allowed to utilize the program, free of charge, for 30 days, in order to investigate its adequacy to meet your needs, through the supplied demonstration database. You may adjust campaign properties, add or alter records, enter contributions and track financials, utilize the query and report functions, etc. in an unrestricted demonstration of the program's power. You are restricted from importing voter records or history (they may however, be added manually), and /or utilizing the word processor and its mail merge functions. You can test the FEC campaign finance reporting capabilities, but are restricted from uploading completed reports. State financial filing is not available in the trial version.

In addition to allowing you access to the demonstration database for investigative purposes, the 30 Day Trial Version allows the user to create a new campaign based on their personal campaigning activity. Since with this version, the user is free to begin to setup their personal data and begin to computerize their campaign, the use of this version is limited to 30 days before a user license must be purchased. No user data will be lost if the 30 day period expires, but the program itself will cease to function until the registration process is completed.
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Why did my 30 Day Trial end prior to 30 days?

The 30 Day Trial Version is programmed to allow the user a 30 day free trial of the program from the day the program is installed until the computer clock moves forward thirty days. Certain changes to the computer clock will affect the 30 day trial clock. For example, if your computer clock date was incorrect and you decided to correct it by moving the date backwards, the program would see this as a breach of the 30 Day agreement and de-activate the program operation immediately. If your program operation ends prior to the agreed 30 Days, contact support@americangotv.com for assistance in accessing the reason and assisting you to restore the program's functions.
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How do I register the program when I am ready to proceed?

When you wish to purchase a license and register the program, you must contact the orderdesk@americangotv.com through email or through our web site order form and indicate that you are ready to register the program. You will be contacted by an AmeriCan GOTV Enterprises, LLC sales representative to collect the necessary information and confirm the payment arrangements. You will be supplied at that time with the details required to register your copy. After these details are in place, and a user license agreement is processed, the final registration of the program takes only a few minutes and does not interfere with any of any data that you have entered.
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What is the purpose of Campaign Properties?

The purpose of Campaign Properties is to assist the user to define the campaign. This area is protected by password and should be entered by administrative personnel only.

{Campaign}{Properties}, the campaign is defined by its elections (a Primary Election, a General Election, and/or perhaps a Run Off), its date structure, its key personnel, Committee definition, financial institution, campaign district information, party information etc. Most of this data is stored here so that the program can access it when creating financial reporting forms.

{Properties}{Finance}is the heart of the campaign finance set up both regarding setting contribution limits and financial category tracking. The Financial Category Wizard will assist the user to structure the campaign budget spreadsheet and actual campaign finance structure.

{Properties}{Timeline}enables you to divide the campaign into stages and track the campaign throughout each stage as outlined in The Campaign Manual. A task checklist can be generated to track the campaigning needs and responsibilities throughout the campaign timeline. The campaign timeline and task list are set by a program administrator, but can be viewed by all personnel through {Activities}{Task Checklist}and tasks can be marked as completed.

{Properties}{Lists} enables the user to create category lists of repetitive information (cities, states, zip codes, occupations, titles, volunteer activities, etc.) to assist in making data input more proficient.

{Properties}{Password}Two password levels protect the program. An administration password that allows the user to access all areas of the program and a financial data entry password that allows authorized personnel into the campaign financials for data input. The passwords may be changed as often as required to maintain program security.
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Why doesn't my Task Tab work?

In {Campaign}{Properties}{Timeline}you are presented with two tabs {Stage Definitions}and {Tasks}. Since the tasks are sorted by date and assigned to the corresponding stage, the program will not allow the user to create campaign timeline tasks until the campaign stage date ranges are entered. Enter your stage date ranges and then you will be allowed to open {Tasks}. The stage dates can be edited later if this is required.
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How can I import registered voters and voter history?

You will be supplied a data import format. Ask your voter data supplier to format the electronic copy of your district's registered voter list in the suggested format. If this format is not available, ask the vendor to provide you with the "database structure." You should ask for "all" of the data that is kept on file. The same holds true for voter history. Send the database structure obtained to support@americangotv.com; technical support will guide you through the balance of the importation.
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When a voter list is imported, does it become the prospect file or a completely new file?

The imported voter records will reside under {Lists}{Voter Registration} and form one separate table within the database. The record of any voter can be easily transferred to either the prospect list or support list with the "convert voter" icon. If a record is transferred, a copy of the registered voter record remains in the registered voter database at all times so that the full value of queries is not affected. If information is altered on any copy of the record, whether it is a registered voter, prospect and/or supporter, no matter which record has been altered, each record updates the other.
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Why are the "convert voter" icons on some of the registered voter records de-activated or faded out?

When a voter has been converted from a registered voter to a Prospect or Supporter, the conversion icon fades or de-activates indicating to any record viewer that they will find the record as a Prospect or Supporter. Remember that the original copy of the record never moves from the registered voter database so that analysis of the district voters is never compromised.
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How can I update the registered voter records without duplicating existing records?

From time to time, you will want to update your registered voter records to incorporate changes to voter registration records collected by your state or local Board of Elections. GOTV Campaign Optimizer has been programmed, when asked to do so, to compare the existing records to the new records that are being imported in order to identify and eliminate the importation of duplicate records.
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Must I import the district voter lists?

There is little in GOTV Campaign Optimizer that you MUST do. On the other hand, it is much easier, often more accurate, and much less time consuming to import data than it is to manually type these entries. In any event, every section of the program allows for the manual input of a new record.
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What is the Zone Wizard?

Briefly, The Campaign Manual recommends that the campaigning district be divided into smaller components based on demographic, geographic, and geopolitical distinctions. These divisions are labeled Regions and each region is then subdivided into Areas. Consequently, you take a large problem and break it down into smaller, definable, and controlled parts. The Zone Wizard enables you to divide your data into Regions and Areas defined by the campaign. In this way, the campaign can monitor and query the data collected in each Region and Area and make appropriate decisions for that specific area and not base those decisions on data collected from the entire district.
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The documents found in {Campaign}{Documents}won't open. Why?

The documents found in {Campaign}{Documents}have been created in .PDF format. Only Acrobat Reader (free software created and distributed by Adobe) can read this file format. With your free copy of Acrobat Reader, you can view and print Adobe .PDF files across a broad range of hardware and operating systems. Your free copy can be downloaded from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html and installed in a few minutes. Once Acrobat Reader has been installed on your system, simply click on the documents listed under {Campaign}{Documents} and Optimizer will open Acrobat Reader and the document selected for viewing. Within the Reporting features of the program, queries can be saved in reporting formats as .PDF files and then easily shared with other members of the campaign. They will also need Acrobat Reader to view this format.
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Is The Campaign Manual available in electronic format?

Yes, after you have purchased both The Campaign Manual and GOTV Campaign Optimizer, you will be supplied with an electronic copy of The Campaign Manual (at no additional charge) to allow for easy access to the manual while working on your campaign. You will note that the Demonstration Version and 30 Day Trial Version offer a selective look at the indexes, word searches, information about the author, and some comments by the author. The complete manual will be available in a similar fashion.
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What is the Report Wizard?

In {Campaign}{Report Wizard}there is an optional program accessory that has been created to assist the user to create personalized reports and customized data export requirements regarding their individual campaign needs. GOTV Campaign Optimizer is sold with an array of general reports covering the general needs of most campaign situations. We have found that some campaigns require more specific and more personalized report formats to meet their individual needs. To meet this requirement, a user can purchase a license for the Report Wizard and create as many individualized reports as are deemed necessary. If you do not wish to buy the Report Wizard, you can buy individual reports as necessary from support@americangotv.com.
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What does the program consider to be a prospect?

In other words, what does The Campaign Manual consider to be a prospect? A prospect is an individual or organization that the campaign considers to be a prospect for a vote, a contribution, campaign staffing responsibilities, volunteer work, and/or an endorsement of the candidate.
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What does the program consider to be a supporter?

Again, The Campaign Manual defines a supporter as an individual or organization who has declared their support of the candidate through a contribution, campaign staffing responsibilities, accepting a volunteer work assignment, and/or an endorsement of the candidate, clearly demonstrating their support.
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A volunteer inputting data deleted a prospect record. Can I retrieve it?

GOTV Campaign Optimizer was developed with the knowledge and understanding that many of the program operators would be volunteers who would have a limited amount of training regarding GOTV Campaign Optimizer and even computers in general. This fact will ultimately make those less familiar with the program more likely to make mistakes while operating the program. For this reason, the program has been developed focusing on the creation of a short learning curve, easy error correction, clear on-screen instructions where necessary, popup reminders regarding incorrect entries or program requirements, the reduction of manual data input wherever possible, highlighting of required fields, and many more features to assist in reducing the program's learning curve.

As for your lost record, simply go to {Campaign}{Undelete}and locate the record that has been deleted in error. Select the record and undelete it.
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Why is there no field supplied for the polling station address?

The display of fields is always a difficult choice. The human view can only handle so much data in a given moment. This must also be balanced against the need to keep the record display uncluttered in order to avoid confusion.

After you have entered your Counties, Precinct No.'s, and Precinct Names through the Zone Wizard and completed the Zone Wizard's update feature, return to {Campaign}{Properties}{Lists}{Precincts}. Note that your Precincts will now be entered into the grid provided. You will be able to enter the Polling Stations and Polling Station Addresses in the grid locations provided. After these steps are completed, hold your cursor over the Polling Station field on any record and the address will appear for your information.
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What is the difference between a basic query (find) and an advanced query?

The basic query is a simple query, which seeks to find an individual record or group of records, based on a single criterion. For example, select the {Basic Tab}to find a voter, where the last name is (exactly) "Smith". Select {Find Now}and the program will find all the records whose last name is "Smith". Since (in the demo database) there are 4 records with the last name of "Smith", you will need to review each record to find the "Smith" that you are searching for.

The advanced query is a self-defined query, which seeks to find an individual record or group of records, based on multiple criteria. For example, select the {Advanced Tab}to find a voter:
where the last name is (equals) "Smith", press {ADD}to add the criteria to the search;
where the address contains "Little River", press {ADD}to add the criteria to the search.
Select {Find Now}and the program will find Michael Smith of 100 Little River Rd. W.

You may add as many different criteria as you wish to in order to find and analyze your data. For example, you may want to create a query to find the voters:
where the Party contains UNA (unaffiliated), Press {ADD}the criteria;
where the Gender is (equals) F (female), Press {ADD}the criteria;
where the Region is (equals) 1, Press {ADD}the criteria;
where the Area is (equals) B, Press {ADD}the criteria;
Where the birth date is between 01/01/1980 and 01/01/1970, Press {ADD}the criteria;
In this example, select {Find Now}and your results will equal all women with no Party affiliation, residing in Region 1, Area B, who are between the ages of 22 and 32.

Any query created can be saved and the results displayed in one of the standard program reports. The saved query can be called on at any time. Saved queries can be used to direct and address a letter through the mail merge functions of the word processor to a specific group, about a specific issue or issues. Any query criteria may be edited, added to or removed, in order to focus specifically on the voters of interest throughout the campaign. Reports can be saved for comparison at a later date against updated data, or saved as a .PDF file and shared with assorted members of the campaign.
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Why can't I make entries in the actual income or expense spreadsheets?

The "projected" income and expense spreadsheets found in {Financial}{Cash Flow}, enable the campaign to build the campaign expense budget and the projected income (contributions) required to finance the campaign. Entries are made in each cell of the spreadsheets.

The "actual" income and expense spreadsheets found in {Financial}{Cash Flow}entries are made automatically when recording the financial transactions in associated entry areas of the program. For example, when a contribution is recorded either through the {Add a Contribution}form on the individual's record or in the {Finance}{Contribution} Journal, the transaction is automatically recorded on the "actual" income spreadsheet. When a debt is recorded in favor of a vendor or a payment is made to a vendor through the vendor's record, the expense is recorded automatically on the expense spreadsheet. Since only actual income and expenses are recorded on the spreadsheet, the projected contributions, loans, and accumulated debts and obligations are tallied at the bottom of the financial form windows.
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Why can't I find all of the actual expenses listed on the Vendor Account?

Debts and Obligations are amounts owed by the campaign (or for that matter amounts owed to the campaign). If a debt is recorded, then payments made against that debt are recorded in {Vendor}{Debts and Obligations} tracking the debt and re-payment schedule. In addition, the actual payments are added to the actual expense spreadsheet in the appropriate category. If a purchase is made on a COD basis, the payment is entered against the {Vendor}{Payment}form. In this case, the payment is not registered against a debt, since no debt existed. The disbursement is recorded in the {Check Register}and the {Disbursements}Journal, while the expense is recorded in the corresponding actual expense category.
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Will GOTV Campaign Optimizer monitor campaign contributions against campaign contribution limits?

Campaign contribution limits are set in {Campaign}{Properties}{Finance}and once set, the program will monitor contributions against the limits set. It is the responsibility of the Candidate and the Campaign Treasurer to be knowledgeable of the laws and regulations and their interpretation regarding the campaign limits for the district and for the office being sought and to set these limits correctly.
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What is meant by Listed and/or Not Listed?

In most districts, regarding most elected offices, campaign finance regulations allow a certain contribution amount to be made before it is mandatory for the full name, address and occupation of a contributor to be "listed" on the campaign finance report that is submitted to the campaign finance regulatory agency. If a contributor does not wish their name, address and occupation listed (that is, wishes to remain "Not Listed") then they can not contribute over the regulated amount. If a support record is checked "Not Listed", then the program will not allow the contribution total of this supporter to exceed the campaign contribution limits set in {Campaign}{Properties}{Finance}. If the record is check "Listed", then the supporter may contribute the maximum amount allowed by law and the program will monitor the contributions against the maximum allowed contribution set in the {Finance}area of {Properties}.
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What is the purpose of the Team Contributions report?

The Campaign Manual recommends that the campaign fundraising team be divided into several teams and given the responsibility of collecting funds from clearly defined Regions and Areas. An attempt should be made to develop a competitive camaraderie between the teams to increase productivity. In order to facilitate this competitive camaraderie and reduce the work of tracking the contributions collected by each team, in each campaign period, GOTV Campaign Optimizer will track this information for the campaign (automatically) as contributions are entered. This report can be found in {Financial}{Team Contributions}. A password is required to view or print this information.
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Why do the shaded areas of individual days on the calendar not appear consistent?

The shading is not consistent because the percentage of the shading indicates the amount of the day that has already been devoted to scheduled appointments. In this way, at a glance, the scheduler can see the busier days vrs. the days that are still available to book new appointments. A double click on any day will open that day's schedule. A double click on any scheduled appointment will open the detailed record for that appointment. A double click on any time in the daily scheduler will open the Appearance Scheduler to input the details regarding a new event or appointment.
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Why do I get Error 13 on occasion?

Error 13 is a system error caused by low memory resources. Depending on the number of records that your program is managing and the number of applications that the operating system is running, Error 13 may warn you that your system resources are to low to perform a certain task. Windows is known to fragment memory, since it fails to release memory back to system resources when finished. Close the error message and any unnecessary windows that remain open. You may want to re-boot your system to de-fragment your memory resources and get a start fresh.
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Do you have references from the candidates who use your software?

We do not make public any information that has been gathered by any candidate through contact with our firm. This policy includes whether of not they are using our program. Since we believe that our program, in itself, gives a candidate an advantage over his or her opponent, we feel that divulging this information would be improper. It is our opinion, that offering use of the program for 30 days, coupled with our support, will answer all of your "need to know" issues and concerns in terms of the program's capability.
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Do you send updates when the campaign finance laws change?

Our program has been structured in such a way as to allow the flexibility necessary to handle campaign finance laws, as we know them today. In the event a change is made in the future, the program may have to be altered and a program "patch" may need to be supplied to each registered user in order to alter the program to meet these new demands. There may or may not be a charge associated with the distribution of this "patch," depending on the requirements of the new finance requirements and the complexity of the programming change required.
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Does GOTV Campaign Optimizer interface with other Microsoft programs?

The program has it's own word processor which is fully compatible with MS Word, and with the Report Wizard, all data can be exported for use in Excel. Nonetheless our belief is that the program itself can analyze the database in a more capable way than could a spreadsheet program. From our experience with users with whom we have addressed this issue, the export of data is not a necessary step and merely increases the workload.
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Feel free to contact our Technical Support Team with any software related questions or comments.

Yes! I would like to contact AmeriCanGOTV Software Technical Support


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