Voter’s Edge, an online national
resource for voter information, announces the upcoming release of its
comprehensive database of nonpartisan information on candidates and ballot
measures in the 2014 election. The Voter’s Edge API will give developers
the ability to build web applications with customized election data on their
own media platforms. The Voter’s Edge API will be made freely available by
MapLight in July 2014.

Voter’s Edge API will
include the following data on federal candidates and ballot measures:

Candidate Data

Shows a candidate’s total money raised; top contributors; endorsements; news
coverage; editorials; campaign advertisements; videos of key policy speeches;
political and professional background; and more.

Ballot Measure Data

Shows a ballot measure’s total money raised and top 10 lists of contributors by
campaigns for and against the measure; the geographic origin of contributions;
what a “YES” or a “NO” vote would mean; the projected
financial impact of the measure; campaign arguments by proponents and
opponents; key endorsements for and against the measure; news; and
editorials.

Voter’s Edge API for California will
include similar data on local and statewide candidates and ballot measures for
more than 50 California cities, with additional data provided by the League of
Women Voters of California Education Fund’s Smart Voter.

Note: For some
races data will be dependent on availability. 
 

Voter’s Edge was designed to bring
voting guides into the 21st century by increasing voter access to valuable
civic information and making it available all in one place. The online voter
guide allows users to evaluate and compare nonpartisan information on
candidates and ballot measures so they can make voting decisions with a full
understanding of what their votes mean, more quickly and easily than ever
before.

If you’re interested in being
notified when the API is released, please sign up here.

What is an API? An
application-programming interface (API) is a set of programming instructions
and standards for accessing a Web-based software application or Web tool.Programming
knowledge is required to use an API.

No programming knowledge? MapLight
is launching a series of embeddable widgets that do not require programming.
The current widgets are available at Voter’s Edge Widgets with more widgets to
come. Widgets are as easy to embed as loading a YouTube video. Please contact
MapLight if you need technical assistance.  

Invitation to Research
Study 

MapLight is conducting research
about user preferences for voter information. We are looking for media outlets
interested in embedding the Voter’s Edge widget on their website and
participating in a few quick and simple feedback phone calls. A small stipend
is available for participants. If interested, please contact Dorothee
Royal-Hedinger and include the URL of your website.

Supporters of Voter’s Edge

Voter’s Edge is made possible, in
part, by the Kaphan Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, the Hewlett
Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, The Pick One Fund, as well as the generous
support of individual League of Women Voters of California Education Fund’s
Smart Voter donors for Voter’s Edge in CA.

About the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of
California Education Fund conducts our voter service and civic education
activities. It is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonpartisan non-profit educational
organization, which:

• Builds participation in the
  democratic process.
• Studies key community issues at
  all government levels in an unbiased manner.
• Enables people to seek positive
  solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict
  management.

About MapLight 

Voter’s Edge is a project of MapLight, a
501(c)(3) nonpartisan research organization that tracks money’s influence on
politics.

Media Contacts

Pamela Behrsin, MapLight, Voter’s
Edge API and Widgets

c: 415-299-0898 | e: pamela@maplight.org | t: @imonlyabill

Elizabeth Leslie, League of Women
Voters of California Education Fund

c: 916-842-7737 |
e: eleslie@lwvc.org |
t: @cavotes

Subject

MapLight Releases Huge Database of ’14 Election Information for Developers via API

Cooperating Organizations

MapLight Voter’s Edge