Understanding where data comes from—and how current it is—helps you interpret it correctly. This platform aggregates data from multiple government sources, each with its own update schedule and limitations. This guide explains what to expect.
Voter Registration
Sources: California Statewide Database (for precinct-level voter metrics), Secretary of State, and county election offices (for top-line registration totals)
What it includes: Party registration breakdowns (Democratic, Republican, No Party Preference, other parties) for all California jurisdictions.
Freshness: Registration data is updated periodically from official sources. There may be a lag between voter registration changes and updates appearing on the platform.
Limitations: Registration reflects a moment in time. Voters may change how they vote without updating their registration. Registration data does not predict actual voting behavior.
Election Results
Sources:
- California Statewide Database (historical and precinct-level data)
- Secretary of State website (for larger jurisdictions)
- County election offices (for precinct-level data not available through other sources)
What it includes:
- Statewide races: President, Governor, US Senate, statewide propositions—with jurisdiction-level breakdowns
- Legislative races: Assembly, Senate, Congressional races—with geographic analysis showing how each jurisdiction voted
- Local races: City council, school board, county supervisor, local ballot measures—when precinct data is available
Census and Demographic Data
Sources:
- Population counts: 2020 Decennial Census (complete count)
- Socioeconomic characteristics: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, currently 2019-2023
What it includes: Demographics (age, race/ethnicity, citizenship), education, employment, income, housing characteristics, commute patterns, health insurance coverage, and more.
Freshness:
- Population counts are from 2020 and are now several years old
- ACS estimates represent an average over a five-year period, not current conditions
Limitations:
- For small jurisdictions (under 20,000 population), ACS estimates have larger margins of error. Small percentage differences may not be statistically meaningful.
- Fast-growing or rapidly changing areas may have significantly different current demographics than the data reflects.
- Census data describes all residents, not voters. The voting population differs in composition.
Campaign Finance Data
Sources:
- State-level: Cal-Access (Secretary of State)
- Local-level: Counties and cities that file electronically through Netfile
What it includes: Committee registrations, contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, late contribution and expenditure reports.
Freshness varies by filing type:
- Form 497 (Late Contributions): Must be filed within 24 hours of receiving $1,000+ within 90 days of an election, or within 10 days of receiving $5,000+ at any other time. Typically appears on platform within a day.
- Form 496 (Late Independent Expenditures): Must be filed within 24 hours. Similar turnaround.
- Form 460 (Regular Statements): Filed on fixed deadlines throughout the election cycle. There may be weeks or months between filings.
- Local filings: Turnaround depends on the local agency. Some are near real-time; others have longer delays.
Limitations:
- Between filing deadlines, campaign finance activity is not visible. A committee may raise or spend significant amounts that won't appear until the next filing.
- Amendments can modify historical data. What was reported initially may be corrected later.
- Local filing coverage varies. Not all local jurisdictions are integrated into the platform.
Ballot Measure Ideology Analysis
Source: Calculated from statewide proposition results by jurisdiction
What it includes: How each jurisdiction voted on statewide propositions, aggregated into issue-area scores (taxes, bonds, social issues, criminal justice, rent control).
Freshness: Updated after each election cycle when certified results are available.
Limitations:
- Only statewide propositions are included. Local ballot measures are not part of the ideology calculation.
- The classification of propositions as "progressive" or "conservative" reflects typical partisan alignments, but individual propositions can have unusual coalitions.
- Past voting does not predict future voting, especially on novel issues.
Geographic Boundaries
Sources:
- Precinct boundaries and precinct-level results from California Statewide Database
- District and jurisdiction boundaries from official county-level sources
Map versions: The platform uses the 2022-2032 district maps, including the Congressional maps approved for 2026.
Limitations:
- Historical election results may reference districts that have been redrawn. Current district boundaries may not match the districts in which past elections occurred.
- Some boundary edge cases exist where geographic matching is imprecise.
Candidate Data
Sources:
- State candidates: Cal-Access registrations and announcements
- Local candidates: Netfile jurisdictions plus web searches for announcements, campaign websites, and news coverage
What it includes:
- State candidates: Declared candidates, their committee registrations, and party affiliations
- Local candidates: Declared candidates and committees where available. Most local races are non-partisan, so party affiliation is not tracked.
Freshness: Candidates appear as their paperwork is filed and as announcements are identified. There may be a lag between announcing and appearing on the platform.
Limitations:
- Candidate lists are not exhaustive until filing deadlines pass. Early in the cycle, not all candidates have declared.
- Some local jurisdictions have limited or delayed candidate data.
What the Platform Does Not Include
- Voter file data at the individual level: The platform shows aggregate statistics, not individual voter records
- Polling data: No survey or polling results are incorporated
- News or media coverage: Campaign finance and official records only
- Real-time precinct reporting on election night: Only certified post-election results