to think that targeted canvassing is inappropriate?

[Tetraread]

I'm not going to say which party, just as I don't want it to turn into a thread debating who to vote for etc, I was just wondering if I was being unreasonable in being creeped out and thinking it's inappropriate.

I received a leaflet in an addressed envelope (just to me, no one else at the property); which I know happens ocassionally, the females in the house have received letters before etc. But inside was a very targeted leaflet, it named a medical condition, which although not overly rare, not overly common either. I checked with neighbours and friends and no one else had received one.

Is this weird? I am curious to how they got the info, but they must have as it would be far too much of a coincidence to not have been deliberate. I am not a member of any support groups, nor have I ever posted online about said condition, the only thing I can think is that they have been able to access my medical records or more realistically some sort of database. Has this happened to anyone else? Is it likely this has happened, or just a really wild coincidence?

For clarity, the leaflet was along the lines of- vote for us and we will invest in more support for (condition)- not a general NHS one.

That’s highly unlikely to have happened in the way that you think it has.

That does sound very odd. Is there a local campaign focussed on the medical condition, perhaps?

No, not that I am aware of. I'm hoping it's just an odd fluke, it's not out of the realm of possibility, it just seems so odd. None of my neighbours or friends (most of whom are in the same age range and constituentcy so if it was targeting demographics would have thought they would) recieved one.

They can pick up info off of your SM, Local engagement etc. Could that be it?

Ask them.

Sounds like the letter I got yesterday. It was not immediately obvious who the letter was from. Again, there was nothing similar for my neighbours although there's been an endless stream of leaflets, mailings and newsletters from that particular party.
I have other ongoing medical issues, but not directly linked to what the letter was about.

And yes, I did find it a bit creepy.

Have you ever filled out any questionnaires or spoken to them when they’ve been canvassing before?

I quite often get political letterS from two parties addressed to me but I’ve filled in surveys before.

@MaryBerrysChutney I did think that at first, but I never post about it on social media, and haven't joined any engagement groups etc.

@Poissonpoison I have emailed the local rep, just out of curiosity. I mean, it's not the end of the world, I just feel uneasy and hopefully they can clarify (although guessing as they're all super busy it won't be for a while)

@MoreJammyDodgersPlease it is creepy isn't it. We haven't had much else through the door (yet) which I've been quite surprised about.

I did wonder if I'd filled something in before, but 99.9% I haven't, and definitely not for this party

GDPR doesn't allow political parties to hold data on your health status. They can (I think) hold data that you signed one of their petitions, but it's very closely regulated.

It won't be as precise as you think. Maybe they've sent that version of the letter to women who live in a certain type of accommodation in a certain part of the constituency?

I got a letter addressed to me today from the Lib Dems about mental health. I can see from the envelope that it's been sent from the party HQ in London and not from my local candidate. I made the assumption I'd been sent it because the Lib Dems have typically been very strong on mental health policy and have lots to say on it.

I would def ask how they profiled people. Legitimate interest applies to mailings but, they must have done some form of profiling (although it may not be what you think)

I've never had any direct dealings with this party. I can't think of any related online activity other than maybe signing a few petitions over the years. Otherwise, I'd have to guess at some sort of demographic analysis, e.g. age, number of registered voters in the household? I don't know what else they would know.

Don’t know but I always bloody get stopped but the labour and the Lib Dem’s ALWAYS stop me to ask me to vote for them, it’s so irritating! Every bloody time I tell them sorry I am a Conservative supporter they ask why, then I see them and they ask me again! For some reason, they are always canvassing around our area.

Hi OP.

I think I received a very similar targeted letter. For me it was related to psychiatric and psychological services. I didn’t feel it had been aimed at me and my history, as such, but your post has made me start to wonder!

I sent it back to the party concerned with a note asking them to remove my details from their database. I’ve had about seven separate communications from them now, DH has had none. I do not intend to vote for them and am starting to get a little bit fed up! Don’t even know how they have my address.

I got a letter from a party addressed to my name. Much less extreme than you but I still didn't like it. Political parties have access to the electoral roll so I guess that party made use if this. It did feel creepy as it was hand delivered and made me want to reconsider voting them.

I received a Lib Dem letter focusing on the NHS and mental health specifically. I'm a registered voter so no surprise as to why I received it. It's obviously a mass mailing effort and not targeted beyond the level of age group and gender (female, borderline millennial - Gen X) so I'm in groups more likely to respond to a mailer on that issue. Actually I don't know that age group was even a factor, just sex is enough to make mental health an issue that resonates more.

If you received the same then you can rest assured, they aren't targeting you specifically in the slightest - as I said, it's probable that you're in a demographic sub-group that is estimated to respond more positively to that issue.

Oh and for the record, I don't have any mental health concerns nor do I have any social media associations with the topic and given that I've only relocated back to the UK in the last 18 months after 20+ years overseas, it would be a very impressive feat for any political party to have found any personal information on me. I think people need to relax and not worry that they're being personally targeted in some way.

If it is anything like the one I received yesterday for the Lib Dems, then it is just a coincidence OP. Mine was personally addressed to me and all about mental health, something which I have fortunately never had any issues with, so if it was the same letter it's certainly just a coincidence.

I do think it was a waste of a leaflet because regardless of how worthy a cause it is, I don't think it is much of a vote winner compared to the economy/brexit/general NHS

I got another directly targeted letter from the lib dems today. This one from a "Polling and Elections Expert". A bit much after they have already been told off by YouGov for misrepresenting their polling. This has motivated me to find their mailing opt out and register:
digitallibdems.typeform.com/to/qZmyvd