Seventy percent of state voter files are ordered directly from state or county election offices. In many states, such as Ohio, voter files can be purchased from the state or from individual counties. This takes place before the files can be converted into one usable format. In many instances, this process takes months and thousands of dollars. Next, the variable formats of the data must be understood.
Files kept by individual counties often differ from one another.
Others are available by county on 30 floppy diskettes. Once the statewide files are compiled, they are converted into one standard format. Until last year, Arkansas files were kept on paper in all but one county. The only electronic statewide file compiled took nearly two years to receive and key punch. Often, the data is six to nine months old before the state gets full county updates.