About Ballot Explorer
Nonpartisan voter information you can trust.
Our Mission
Ballot Explorer exists to help every voter understand what is on their ballot. We believe informed voters make better decisions, and that understanding your ballot should not require a law degree.
Our platform has two pillars:
- Ballot measure explainers: We break down every ballot measure into plain English, covering what it does, what a "yes" vote means, what a "no" vote means, and the arguments on both sides. Browse measures
- Candidate accountability tracking: We track what candidates promise and whether elected officials follow through. Browse candidates
Our Values
- Neutrality above all: We do not endorse or oppose any candidate, party, or ballot measure. Our goal is to inform, never to persuade.
- Plain language: Legal and political jargon creates barriers. We translate complex policy into clear, accessible language.
- Transparency: We show our sources, explain our methodology, and acknowledge our limitations.
- Accessibility: Voter information should be available to everyone regardless of ability, language, or technical skill.
How the Platform Works
Data Sources
Our information comes from official, publicly available sources:
- State Secretary of State offices for ballot measure text, titles, and summaries
- State legislative databases for bill text and voting records
- Official fiscal impact analyses from nonpartisan state agencies
- Campaign finance filings from state and federal agencies
- Public statements and press releases from candidates
AI-Assisted Analysis
We use AI to help process and summarize large volumes of legal text, legislative records, and public statements. Every AI-generated summary is reviewed for accuracy and neutrality. AI helps us scale our coverage, but human judgment ensures quality.
Important: AI-assisted content may contain errors. We always link to primary sources so you can verify information yourself. This platform is for educational purposes and should not be considered legal or voting advice.
Neutrality Safeguards
Maintaining strict neutrality is our top priority. Here is how we do it:
- Both sides represented: Every measure explainer includes arguments for and against, sourced from official documents and major stakeholder organizations.
- No recommendations: We never tell you how to vote. We present the facts and let you decide.
- No political advertising: We do not accept advertising from political campaigns, parties, or PACs.
- Bias review: Content is reviewed to ensure balanced framing, neutral language, and fair representation of all positions.
- Open corrections: If we get something wrong, we correct it promptly and transparently.
Team
Ballot Explorer was founded with a simple belief: every voter deserves clear, unbiased information about what is on their ballot.
Team details coming soon.
Resources
- Press Kit — logos, brand guidelines, and press information
- Embed Widget — add ballot measure information to your website
- How Ballot Measures Work — educational guide for voters
- How to Vote — registration, voting methods, and voter rights
- Browse by State — voter information for all 50 states and DC
Contact
Have questions, corrections, or suggestions? We want to hear from you.
Email: hello@ballotexplorer.org