How an online political encyclopedia became a central hub for American election data

History · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Ballotpedia began as a community-edited wiki in 2007, but it has evolved into a professional resource for tracking American politics. From verifying candidate authenticity on Twitter to powering Amazon Alexa’s election updates, this nonprofit organization provides the objective data necessary to navigate the complex landscape of U.S. government.

Founded in 2007 by the Citizens in Charge Foundation, Ballotpedia transitioned from a collaborative wiki model to a platform managed by over 50 professional staff members by 2021. It is sponsored by the Lucy Burns Institute, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization established in December 2006 by Leslie Graves. The institute is named after the suffragist Lucy Burns, who co-founded the National Woman's Party alongside Alice Paul. Headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin, the institute reported $5.37 million in revenue in 2019.

The platform’s scope expanded significantly through strategic mergers. In 2013, the Lucy Burns Institute acquired Sunshine Review, and in March 2015, it absorbed Judgepedia, an encyclopedia dedicated to the American legal system. Judgepedia’s influence was notable; its profile of Elena Kagan was cited by both the Harvard Law School Library and the Law Library of Congress during her Supreme Court nomination process. Today, Ballotpedia serves as a critical data provider for major media outlets like the New York Times and organizations such as the Center for American Progress.

Beyond simple record-keeping, Ballotpedia conducts original research into the mechanics of democracy. Their studies have revealed that ballot measure descriptions often require graduate-level reading comprehension, far exceeding the 7th to 8th-grade reading level of the average American adult. Furthermore, their analysis of state legislative elections suggests a long-term decline in competitiveness, with 2014 marking the least competitive cycle in four decades. By tracking everything from incumbent vulnerability to the demographic income divides in congressional districts, Ballotpedia aims to demystify the complex language and trends shaping American public policy.

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