Frequently Asked Questions

No. Ballot Builder never requires an account, login, or email address. You can use the app completely anonymously.

All of your personal data — your values profile, questionnaire responses, and demographic information — is stored exclusively in your browser's localStorage on your own device. None of it is ever sent to or stored on our servers.

No. We do not collect, store, or share any personally identifiable information (PII). Your values and responses never leave your device. We have no server-side user storage at all.

You can delete all of your Ballot Builder data at any time by clearing your browser's local storage. You can also use the "Start Over" option on the home page to reset your profile. Once cleared, the data is permanently gone — we have no copy of it anywhere.

Ballot Builder is built on the Schwartz theory of basic human values, a well-established framework in social psychology that identifies 19 distinct value dimensions such as self-direction, security, benevolence, and achievement. This theory has been validated across cultures worldwide.

The Portrait Values Questionnaire — Revised and Refined (PVQ-RR) is a validated psychometric instrument designed to measure your personal values across all 19 Schwartz value dimensions. Each question describes a person and asks how much that person is like you. There are no right or wrong answers.

Candidate and ballot measure profiles are generated through LLM (large language model) analysis of public records, including voting histories, policy platforms, public statements, and official ballot measure text. These profiles map candidates and measures onto the same 19-value framework used for your personal profile.

Alignment scores are computed using cosine similarity between your values profile vector and a candidate's or measure's profile vector. This is a deterministic mathematical calculation — no AI or subjective judgment is involved in the matching step itself. The score represents how closely a candidate's or measure's demonstrated values match your own.

Ballot Builder covers upcoming local, state, and federal elections based on your location. We use your geographic location to look up the specific races and ballot measures that will appear on your ballot.

You can retake the questionnaire whenever your values or priorities change, or at the start of each new election cycle. Your values tend to be relatively stable over time, so you may not need to retake it frequently. However, if you feel your priorities have shifted, retaking the questionnaire will give you more accurate recommendations.

The alignment score is a mathematical measure of similarity between your personal values profile and a candidate's or ballot measure's profile. A higher score means greater alignment between your stated values and the candidate's demonstrated values or the measure's intent. It is not an endorsement — it is a tool to help you make informed decisions based on your own priorities.

If your browser's geolocation is unavailable or you decline the location prompt, you can manually enter your street address. This information is used only to look up your ballot and is stored locally on your device, never on our servers.