Frequently Asked Questions
For Voters
Is VIP affiliated with a political party or candidate?
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative, nonpartisanship is critical to VIP’s work. We do not endorse or support any candidates for public office, nor do we make any campaign contributions.
We amplify the trusted information that we receive directly from election offices, regardless of party affiliation. Our tools and data have been used by the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee, as well as by government resources like USA.gov and the Election Assistance Commission.
Does VIP collect or publish my personal information?
No. VIP does not collect users’ personal information and delivers voting information based solely on address. We only publish public elections data. Our dataset typically includes voting locations and their respective hours of operation, as well as contact information for state and local election offices. In some cases, it also includes ballot information for that particular election.
Does VIP help keep elections secure?
We collaborate with state and local election administrators who use various security measures to protect the vote. These dedicated public servants work tirelessly to ensure the integrity of our elections.
As a member of the Election Infrastructure Subsector Coordinating Council, our parent organization Democracy Works also receives updates from DHS that allow us to ensure that we are playing an active role in maintaining election security.
for advocacy organizations
What elections does VIP cover?
You can check VIP data availability through our Election Coverage page. You can receive updates when data for an election is published by joining the VIP Community Google Group.
You can also read our list of upcoming elections for which VIP will provide data. This list is updated frequently and we usually publish data about 2-3 weeks before an election.
How do I allow people to find VIP election information through my site?
The best way to offer important voting information is to embed the Voting Information Tool on your website. It is open source, free of charge, and easy to drop in.
Do I have to know how to code to use VIP’s dataset?
Nope! VIP offers a free-to-use voting location lookup tool that does not require coding experience. For more information about implementation, please contact us at info@votinginfoproject.org.
for developers
I want to create my own tool that provides VIP election information through my site or app. How do I get started?
We encourage you to use the Google Civic Information API, powered by VIP data. You can learn about the VIP format by reviewing our data specification and joining the VIP Community Google Group for developers and information distributors.
What is the VIP Specification?
The VIP Specification is the format we use to publish data. Currently in version 6.0, the specification has been developed with the help of Google, state and local election officials, and other organizational partners. It outlines the requirements and options for every field and element of a feed.
Version 6.0 can now support:
ESRI Shapefiles to supplement address banks
Drop-off Locations
Statewide Polling Locations
Text in multiple languages
I have suggestions to improve the VIP Specification. Who should I contact?
If you have used VIP data before and have a suggestion to improve the VIP spec, submit requests via Github.
for election administrators
How can I use VIP’s free tool?
Election offices are welcome to use our Voting Information Tool as a primary method for allowing voters to look up this information on their websites, or as a contingency option in the event of technical issues with existing tools.
If I don’t need to use VIP’s free tool, should my office still publish data with VIP?
Absolutely! Data published through VIP appears in many places online in addition to our free tools. All sorts of organizations – including search engines, social media sites, advocacy organizations, campaigns, colleges and universities, media outlets and government entities – display VIP data to voters. This allows millions of voters to see VIP data every election cycle.
Election office participation is free and voluntary for every election, from local to national. Our state and local partners choose to work with VIP solely because of the value and support we bring to their offices and their voters. For more information about how to participate, contact us at info@votinginfoproject.org.
How does VIP keep track of changing polling place information?
We know that polling places can change from one election to the next. After an election has concluded, the associated data is automatically removed from Google’s Civic Information API. Removing the data after each election ensures that voters are being informed by the most up-to-date and accurate information.
VIP is just one of the many vehicles election officials can use to amplify the information voters need. Even after the data goes live, election officials can always update it to capture any polling location changes.
How should my data export for VIP be formatted?
VIP can accept data in a number of forms. However, we highly recommend that election offices provide a VIP formatted feed using the VIP Specification if possible. This streamlines the publishing process and ensures election offices can use the many features of the specification.
I’m using an older version of the VIP Specification. Do I have to upgrade to Version 6.0?
While VIP continues to accept past versions, including 3.0, 5.1, and 5.2, we encourage upgrading if possible. If you would like to upgrade to VIP 6.0 from an older version, please contact our team at info@votinginfoproject.org.
for funders
What impact does VIP have on voting and elections?
VIP data is used by a variety of partners to mobilize millions of voters to get to the polls.
Google reported that their resources on how to vote, how to register, and where to vote — which included VIP’s early voting, polling, and ballot drop-off locations — were seen nearly 500 million times across their products in the fall of 2020. From mid-October through Election Day that year, Google added more than 125,000 voting locations provided by VIP to Google Maps.
In addition to reaching voters on these platforms, VIP’s data was accessed more than 9,989,334 times during this period through our free tools.
The scope and reach of VIP’s data means that voters seeking election information online are met with accurate and reliable guidance. Read Democracy Works’s annual impact reports to learn more about our work.
How can I support VIP?
Please reach out to info@votinginfoproject.org if you have questions about supporting the project.