What do I need to troubleshoot Action ID & 2FA?


Confirming using Action ID

  • Go to https://myaccount.ngpvan.com/ and attempt to login with an Action ID (an email) and password.

  • If you need a password reset, click “Forgot my password?” on the login screen to start the password reset process.


Current Action ID Users - Confirm you have 2FA

If you have Action ID, how to check if you have 2FA set up



Setting up Action ID

If you have a VAN Account Name, but not Action ID - or if you have an existing Action ID that needs to be linked to an account

  • Speak with someone who can administer your account at your county party or campaign. 

  • They will need to send you an Action ID invitation to your email. Once you get the email, open it and then click on “Accept Invitation”.

  • From here, if you have an existing Action ID, you would enter your Action ID (an email) and password, then hit Log In—but if you need to create an Action ID, then Click on Create an Action ID 

  • Important note—if you try to set up an Action ID and it says that one already exists for that email, then click on “Forgot your Password?” on the Action ID login to get a password reset—this is because you have you have actually set up an Action ID with your email before, at some point in the past.

  • Setting up your Action ID should prompt you to setup your 2FA. If not, please follow these next set of instructions “How to Set Up 2FA if you find that it is not Set Up”.

  • To log into VAN from here, you may need to go to votebuilder.com & click on login with Action ID.


How to set up 2FA if you find that it is not set up

  • There is a toggle on that page for "Two Factor Authentication" which you will want to set to "On". When enabling it, you will have the option of either using an authentication app (recommended), such as Google Authenticator

    • Download Google Authenticator on your Tablet or Smart Phone by going to Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone)—Google Authenticator is an example of a free one, but there are others.

  • Another way to set up 2FA is using your phone number to receive a one time use code via SMS. SMS is easier to set up, but using an authentication app is more secure.

  • Follow the on screen prompts to complete verifying your ability to provide a one time use code.

  • Once you are done setting up your authenticator app or phone number for two-factor authentication, you will also have the option to view your backup codes in case you ever need to log in and you are unable to use either an SMS message or an authenticator app. Store these backup codes in a secure place (like a password manager). 

  • Whenever you are logging in from a new device, you will be prompted for a code, and also given the option to “Trust” the device and browser you are using. If you choose to "trust," you will no longer have to complete Two-Step verification from that device and browser combination moving forward. If you do not “trust” the device, you will be required to verify the device and browser each time you login from it. Select “Enable two-step verification,” and the process is complete. 


Other FAQs

What is 2FA?

  • Two-Factor authentication is an additional security measure that helps make sure your login process is as secure as possible. This is becoming an increasingly common security measure on many websites and applications, particularly where sensitive information is stored.

  • Types of 2FA

    • Authenticator App (Most Secure and Recommended)

      • Most Authenticators should work, but we specifically tested the following:

        • Google Authenticator

        • Microsoft Authenticator

        • LastPass

        • Authy.com (This one is recommended if you are rural and don’t have a good connection to wifi because you can download it on your desktop and use it without internet. instructions here)

    • SMS/Text to Primary Phone & SMS/Text to Backup Phone

    • Backup Codes


I can’t log into Action ID, because I don’t have access to my Action ID’s primary phone

  • Note: This will only happen if you do not have an authenticator app set up or a back up phone set up or saved and secure list of Backup Codes

  • Firstly, an admin cannot change the phone number associated with your ActionID due to security reasons, since this defeats the purpose of two-factor authentication. 

  • Regain access to the old phone number or log into accounts.ngpvan.com on a computer that you’ve previously marked as trusted and change the phone number associated with the ActionID. It’s also important to note that when configuring two-factor authorization, users can store a Backup phone number, Authenticator App, or Backup Codes in the event they lose access to primary mobile phone number.


I can’t log into Action ID, because I don’t have access to any of the 2FA options that I already set up, or my 2FA code is not coming/working — or I am not receiving a password reset

  • Again, an admin cannot change the phone number associated with your ActionID due to security reasons, since this defeats the purpose of two-factor authentication

    • You’ll need to either regain access to the old phone number or

    • log into accounts.ngpvan.com on a computer that you’ve previously marked as trusted and change the phone number associated with the ActionID or

    • It’s also important to note that when configuring two-factor authorization, users can store a back-up phone number or

    • even better and more secure, have it set up with an authenticator app or

    • you also had the ability to print or download a set of one time use backup codes

  • If these five options aren’t possible, especially if you think that the Action ID is set up with the correct phone number but the code isn’t coming in a text message, you will need to create a new ActionID

    • As for creating a new Action ID, you cannot use the exact email that you had your Action ID with before since you are locked out of that Action ID and there can only be one Action ID per “exact” email 

    • So, you need to create a new Action ID with a separate email OR a your current email with a +_____@

    • Separate email or email with a +_____@

  • Once you have with a new Action ID

    • Either an administrator (such as the VAN Admin for your County Party/Campaign or anyone with a VAN user profile above yours) will need to unlink any VAN accounts linked to the old ActionID so the user may link these accounts to their newly-created ActionID. They can do this by going to Users, clicking on your User Profile clicking the dropdown of more info and selecting Unlink Action ID then send you a new Action ID invite.

    • Or if you are trying to link your Action ID to a new/old user account that doesn’t have an Action ID linked, then you can use the invite link you received by email (as long as it hasn’t expired (48 Hours)


I forgot my password for my Action ID - what do I do?

  • Click “Forgot my password?” on the Action ID login screen after you click on Login with Action ID on votebuilder.com to start the password reset process. DO NOT RESET YOUR PASSWORD FOR YOUR ACCOUNT NAME. No user is  able to login with account name so resetting the account name’s password is pointless.


I don’t want to enable two-factor because SMS is insecure/I get charged/etc.

  • Lucky for you, we also support authenticator apps and backup codes. See above: “How to Set Up 2FA if you find that it is not Set Up”. See What is 2FA? for info on what Authenticatior Apps are recommended, as well as backup codes.


Do I need to re-authenticate with two-factor every time I log into a new site?

  • If you select "Remember this device," when you log into Action ID, then no. This will remember the device for 30 days. If you login from another device, however, you will have to re-authenticate.


I heard the authenticator app is more secure than texting - how do I switch over?

  • If you already log into VAN with Action ID and have 2FA set up, we recommend that you set up 2FA with an authenticator app rather than just stay with your SMS/Text Primary Phone Code

    • Please set up your 2FA with an Authenticator App by going to accounts.ngpvan.com and log into ActionID. Click “Manage My ActionID Profile,” and under “Authenticator App,” click “Add Application.” This will take you through the workflow to enable an authenticator app.

    • A recommended authenticator app is Google Authenticator

    • Download Google Authenticator on your Tablet or Smart Phone by going to Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone)—Google Authenticator is an example of a free one, but there are others


I don’t have a smart phone - what do I do?

  • You don’t need a smartphone for 2FA - you can set up by receiving texts on any regular phone

  • Alternatively if you have a tablet that is connected to the internet you could use the authenticator app there


I don’t have a cell phone - what do I do?

  • If you have a tablet you can setup the authenticator app there and/or backup codes.  Otherwise you unfortunately will no longer be able to use VAN.  You can however continue to volunteer, calling into virtual phone banks, knocking, etc.—since MiniVAN and Open Virtual Phone Bank (OpenVPB) don’t require you to login to VAN, only that you login with an Action ID.


One Person, One Account

  • VAN strongly recommends that each person who needs access to the VAN be given his or her own account/own Action ID. The KDP has adopted this as policy.

  • Multiple persons should not be allowed to log in with the same Username and Password because.

    • First, administrators have the ability to track the activity of users while they are logged into the VAN, which can be helpful for troubleshooting errors. But if several persons are logged onto the same account, administrators can't identify and isolate the activity of any one of those persons.

    • Also, password sharing poses a security threat. Only you should login to you VAN account. If someone else needs an account then either you can create one for them or have an admin of you committee create an account for them.


Where can I get more help?