Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about CivicVoice.
For Citizens
What is CivicVoice?
CivicVoice is a free platform that connects you directly to every elected official who represents you — from city council to Congress. You can send verified messages, vote on upcoming legislation, and hold your representatives accountable. Think of it as a direct line between you and the people who make decisions on your behalf.
Is CivicVoice really free?
Yes — 100% free for citizens, forever. No ads, no premium tiers, no hidden fees, no paywalls. CivicVoice is funded by subscriptions from elected officials who use the platform to hear from their constituents. Civic participation should never have a price tag.
Why do you need my address?
Your address is how we determine which elected officials represent you. The United States has over 500,000 elected officials at the federal, state, and local level — your address tells us exactly which ones are yours. A full home address is required to ensure accurate district verification. Your address is never shared with officials or anyone else.
Can my elected official see my home address?
No. Officials never see your home address. They see your name, your verified district, and your message — that's it. Your address is used only to verify which officials represent you, and it's never shared with anyone.
What happens when I send a message?
Your message goes directly to the official's CivicVoice dashboard, tagged with your name and verified district. Our AI analyzes the message for topic and sentiment (e.g., "healthcare — concerned") to help officials understand what their district cares about. The official or their staff can read and respond to your message through the platform.
Will my representative actually see my message?
If your representative is on CivicVoice, yes — your message lands directly in their dashboard, verified and categorized. If they're not on the platform yet, we'll let you know and show you other ways to contact them. As more officials join, your reach grows automatically.
Is CivicVoice partisan?
No. CivicVoice is nonpartisan by design. We don't endorse candidates, take political positions, or favor any party. The platform exists to connect citizens with their representatives — regardless of political affiliation. Accountability and transparency aren't partisan values. They're American values.
How is my data protected?
We will never sell, share, or monetize your personal data. Period. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest, passwords are salted and hashed, and we use strict access controls. We don't use tracking cookies, advertising pixels, or third-party analytics that follow you across the web. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.
What is the Official Scorecard?
Every official on CivicVoice receives a public grade (A+ through F) based on five metrics: Response Rate (25%), Response Time (20%), Vote Alignment with constituent sentiment (25%), Engagement Frequency (15%), and Issue Coverage (15%). The formula is fully transparent and published publicly. Officials can't pay to improve their grade — they have to earn it.
What does "Vote Alignment" mean?
When officials post upcoming legislation for constituent polling, citizens vote YAY or NAY. Vote Alignment measures how often the official's actual vote matches what their district expressed. It's not about telling officials how to vote — it's about transparency. Citizens deserve to know when their representative votes with or against their district's wishes.
Can I change my address after signing up?
Yes, but to prevent abuse of the polling system, address changes are limited to once every six months. This ensures that poll results accurately reflect the views of actual residents in each district.
Do I have to use my real name?
Yes. CivicVoice requires real, verified identities on both sides — citizens and officials. This is a feature, not a limitation. Anonymous platforms are breeding grounds for bots, spam, and bad-faith attacks. Real names create real accountability.
Still have questions? We're here to help.
Reach out at support@civicvoiceapp.com
For Elected Officials
How much does CivicVoice cost for officials?
Pricing is based on your level of office: Local (city council, school board, county) is $29/month, State (state house, senate, statewide) is $99/month, and Congressional (U.S. House & Senate) is $299/month. All tiers include unlimited constituents. Cancel anytime.
How are constituents verified?
Every citizen on CivicVoice verifies their full home address during registration. We use this to map them to their exact elected officials at every level of government. Only verified residents of your district can send you messages or participate in your legislation polls. No bots. No out-of-district spam. No astroturfing.
What do I get with a CivicVoice subscription?
A real-time dashboard showing verified constituent messages organized by topic and sentiment, AI-powered digests that summarize what your district cares about, legislation polling tools so you can gauge constituent opinion before you vote, a public accountability scorecard that demonstrates your responsiveness, and staff accounts so your team can help manage constituent communications.
How is the Official Scorecard calculated?
Your grade is based on five transparent metrics: Response Rate (25%), Response Time (20%), Vote Alignment with constituent polls (25%), Engagement Frequency (15%), and Issue Coverage (15%). The formula is public — your constituents can see exactly how grades work. We give 30 days advance notice before any formula changes, and you can always add context statements to your scorecard.
Can I try CivicVoice before subscribing?
Yes — request a demo and we'll walk you through the full platform with real data. We want you to see the value before you commit.
What if I don't join? What happens to my seat?
Your seat still appears on CivicVoice — listed as "Not on CivicVoice" with the number of constituents in your district who are waiting to hear from you. Citizens can still see your office and contact information, but they can't send you verified messages until you claim your office.
Can I respond to constituent messages?
Absolutely — that's the point. You can respond directly through the platform, and our AI can suggest draft responses based on the topic and your previous communications. Your response rate is one of the key metrics in your public scorecard.
For Candidates
How is CivicVoice different for candidates vs. sitting officials?
Candidates get the same core platform — verified constituent messaging, sentiment dashboard, legislation polling, and a public scorecard. The key difference: candidates can use CivicVoice to build a track record of engagement BEFORE taking office. Post your positions on upcoming legislation, respond to constituent questions, and demonstrate responsiveness — all publicly documented with data.
I'm a challenger with no voting record. How does the scorecard work for me?
Your scorecard focuses on what you CAN do: Response Rate (how quickly you reply to constituents), Engagement Frequency (how often you're active on the platform), Position Posting (your stances on legislation), and Constituent Approval (how often your positions align with district sentiment). You don't need a voting record to earn an A+ — you need to show up and listen.
Can I see what issues my district cares about?
Yes — that's one of the most powerful features for candidates. Your District Intelligence dashboard shows the top issues constituents are messaging about, trending topics, and real-time sentiment data. This is better than any polling data because it's continuous, verified, and free. Use it to tailor your campaign messaging, prep for debates, and prioritize your platform.
What happens if my opponent joins CivicVoice too?
Great — that's the goal. When both candidates are on CivicVoice, constituents can compare scorecards side by side. Whoever is more responsive, more engaged, and more aligned with the district wins the transparency narrative. CivicVoice creates a healthy competition to listen better — and that's good for democracy.
What if my opponent is NOT on CivicVoice?
Even better for you. Their seat shows as 'Not on CivicVoice' with a count of constituents waiting to connect. Meanwhile, you have a documented scorecard proving your engagement. In debates, mailers, and endorsement pitches, that contrast speaks volumes.
Can I use my CivicVoice data in campaign materials?
Absolutely. Your scorecard, response rate, average response time, and constituent engagement stats are all yours to use. Export your scorecard as a report for mailers, press kits, and debate prep. 'I responded to 94% of constituent messages with a 4-hour average response time' is a powerful, verifiable campaign stat.
Does CivicVoice cover primary elections?
Yes. CivicVoice tracks all candidates in every race — including contested primaries. Citizens can see all candidates running for their district during primary season, grouped by party. Primary election dates and countdowns are displayed for all 50 states.
Is CivicVoice available nationwide?
Yes — CivicVoice covers every federal, state, and local race in all 50 states. Our candidate data comes from the FEC (federal candidates), and we support manual enrollment for state and local races. No matter where you're running, CivicVoice works for your district.
How much does it cost for candidates?
Same pricing as officials — based on the level of office you're running for: Local races (city, county, school board) are $29/month, State races are $99/month, and Congressional races are $299/month. Less than a single campaign mailer, and it works 24/7 through election day. Cancel anytime.
Can my campaign staff use CivicVoice?
Yes. All subscriptions include staff accounts so your campaign team can help triage and respond to constituent messages. You maintain oversight and approval while your team handles the volume.
Ready to Be Heard?
Join CivicVoice and connect directly to the officials who represent you.