Frequently Asked Questions

• What is We Vote?

  We Vote is a nonprofit technology startup, creating a digital voter guide informed by issues you care about, and people you trust. Through our nonpartisan, open source platform, we'll help you become a better voter, up and down the ballot.

• How does We Vote help voters?

  We Vote is where you view your ballot, see endorsements from your network for all candidates and measures, and collaborate with folks who share your values.

• Who's behind We Vote?

  We Vote is a collaboration between two nonprofits (www.WeVoteEducation.org 501(c)(3) FEIN 47-2691544 and www.WeVoteUSA.org 501(c)(4) FEIN 81-1052585) based in Oakland, CA. We do not support or oppose any political candidate or party. We are not affiliated with WeVoteProject.org or WeVoteUSA.com.

• No really, who are you?

  We Vote is a volunteer-driven movement. We rely on volunteers across the country who use their engineering, design, and other skills to build We Vote. We are over 100 people who have donated 12,000+ volunteer hours, including 90+ contributors on GitHub. We also have a small team of core staff and volunteer board members. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions via our Contact Us form. Our mailing address is:
  We Vote
  1423 Broadway PMB 158
  Oakland, CA 94612

• How does We Vote work?

  Follow people and groups you trust to get info on candidates and ballot measures. Ask your friends what they think. Then take We Vote with you to the polls for an easy-to-use cheat sheet.

• Is this an app or a website?

  We have a mobile-ready website, as well as iPhone and Android apps. We are free and open source: https://github.com/WeVote

• So who should I vote for?

  That's up to you.

• Wait, what?

  We Vote does not endorse any candidate or party. Our job is to help you make your own decisions, with help from your friends and trusted network.

• How does We Vote help nonprofits?

  We provide a free place where organizations can share and promote their voter guides, including endorsements of candidates and ballot measures, and connect to new constituents.

• Will you sell my email address?

  Not a chance. We Vote will not sell your email address or any other individually identifiable information. (We don't want our email addresses sold either!) We may sell aggregated data.

• What does We Vote cost?

  It's free! If you like We Vote, please donate so we can do more to help voters.

• How do you make money?

  Like most nonprofits, we take in donations from individuals and foundations. We also plan to generate revenues by offering premium features.

• How will you use my donation?

  While most of the We Vote software is written by unpaid volunteers, we use financial donations to pay the staff required to gather and groom election data, as well as manage communications, operations, and our internship program. Other expenses include server costs and fees required to buy political data.

• How do you handle trolls?

  Unless your name is J.R.R. Tolkien, we know how much you hate trolls. That's why on We Vote you only hear from people and organizations that you Friend or Follow. We Vote eliminates noise from people with radically different values.

• What's next for We Vote?

  Better tools to let organizations promote their voter guides and poll their members. Tools to let candidates ask for help from their supporters.

• Sounds great! How can I help?

  We couldn't do what we do without volunteers and donors. Please sign up to volunteer on Idealist.