Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 23, 2026
Last Updated: July 23, 2026

1. Introduction

Ballot Beacon (“Ballot Beacon,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and safeguard information when you use the Ballot Beacon platform and related services.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information you voluntarily provide, including your name, email address, phone number, mailing address or ZIP code, account credentials, language preference, subscription information, payment-related information supplied during purchases, support communications, saved ballot selections, vote reminder preferences, profile settings, and any other information you choose to provide.

We also automatically collect technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, cookies, pages visited, clicks, session activity, and diagnostic information.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to create and manage accounts, personalize ballot information, save preferences, deliver newsletters and requested reminders, process subscriptions, authenticate users, improve platform features, provide customer support, detect fraud, maintain security, analyze platform performance, comply with legal obligations, and enforce our Terms of Use.

4. Saved Ballot Choices

Saved ballot selections are personal planning tools only. They are not official votes, are never transmitted to election officials, and are not intentionally shared with political campaigns, political parties, employers, insurers, or data brokers.

5. Cookies & Analytics

Ballot Beacon uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the platform, remember your preferences, improve security, and better understand how the platform is used. We currently use Microsoft Clarity for heatmaps and session analytics and infrastructure providers for platform operations and internal analytics.

Sensitive fields, including email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, ZIP codes entered into forms, account settings, and saved ballot selections, are intended to be masked from session replay tools whenever reasonably possible. You may disable cookies through your browser settings, although some platform features may not function properly.

6. Sharing Information

Ballot Beacon does not sell personal information for money. Information may be shared only with trusted service providers performing services on our behalf, when required by law, to protect legal rights, or as part of a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets.

7. Data Retention & Security

We retain information only as long as reasonably necessary to operate the platform, maintain accounts, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, and enforce our agreements. We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information; however, no system can guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may request access to, correction of, deletion of, or a portable copy of certain personal information. California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

To submit a request, visit our Support page, email support@theballotbeacon.com, or call (888) 630-1688.

9. Children’s Privacy

Ballot Beacon is not directed to children under the age of 13 and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If such information is discovered, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

10. Accessibility

Ballot Beacon is committed to making the platform accessible to as many users as reasonably possible. If you experience difficulty using any part of the platform, please contact us and we will work to assist you.

11. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the “Last Updated” date and, when required by law, providing additional notice.

12. Contact

Questions or privacy requests may be directed to:

Ballot Beacon Privacy Team
support@theballotbeacon.com
(888) 630-1688

Ballot Beacon Privacy Commitment

Ballot Beacon believes voter trust begins with privacy. We strive to collect only the information reasonably necessary to operate our platform, remain transparent about our practices, protect user information with appropriate safeguards, and respect every user’s ability to control their personal information.

Effective Date: July 23, 2026

IMPORTANT: This document is a comprehensive policy and governance draft for Ballot Beacon. It is intended for review by California legal counsel before publication. It is not legal advice.

Welcome

Ballot Beacon is an independent educational publisher dedicated to helping people understand laws, ballot measures, elections, and government actions in plain English. Our mission is not to tell readers how to vote. Our mission is to help readers understand what they are voting on. We believe transparency, accuracy, editorial independence, and accountability are essential to public trust.

The Ballot Beacon Promise

We promise to explain government actions as clearly and accurately as reasonably possible, using publicly available information and good-faith editorial judgment. We will never knowingly publish false information, accept payment to alter editorial conclusions, or intentionally mislead readers. We welcome factual corrections supported by reliable evidence.

Editorial Independence

Ballot Beacon operates independently. Editorial decisions are not controlled by political parties, candidates, ballot committees, advocacy organizations, lobbyists, donors, advertisers, sponsors, or government agencies. Publication of a law, candidate, public official, organization, or ballot measure does not constitute endorsement or opposition unless expressly stated.

Editorial Standards

Our standards are Accuracy, Clarity, Independence, Transparency, Accountability, Fairness, Consistency, and Respect for readers. We seek to summarize complex material faithfully while improving readability. We distinguish between factual reporting, explanatory summaries, and clearly labeled opinion if opinion is ever published.

Research & Sources

Whenever practical we rely on official legislative text, Secretaries of State, election authorities, Congress, state legislatures, fiscal analyses, court opinions, agency publications, and other reliable public records. Secondary sources may be used for context but official records take precedence. If a Ballot Beacon summary differs from an official government document, the official document controls.

Educational Summaries

Ballot Beacon creates original educational summaries. Because our purpose is readability, summaries may omit procedural details, legal definitions, exceptions, cross-references, or technical language contained in official documents. Our summaries complement rather than replace official government materials.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence may assist with organization, drafting, translation, transcription, formatting, and summarization. AI does not replace human editorial judgment. Every published article, newsletter, graphic, ballot guide, or video is intended to receive meaningful human editorial review before publication.

Corrections Policy

Accuracy matters. Anyone may submit a correction request by emailing support@theballotbeacon.com. Requests should identify the article, the challenged statement, and provide supporting documentation from an official or reliable source. Ballot Beacon retains sole editorial discretion regarding corrections but will promptly review credible requests and update content when appropriate.

Funding & Conflicts

Ballot Beacon does not sell favorable editorial coverage. Sponsors, advertisers, donors, subscribers, affiliates, or business partners do not control editorial decisions. Any material conflict of interest known to Ballot Beacon relating to editorial content will be disclosed when appropriate.

Informational Use Only

All content is provided solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on Ballot Beacon constitutes legal, financial, tax, investment, accounting, medical, or other professional advice. No attorney-client, fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship is created by use of this website.

User Responsibility

Readers remain solely responsible for decisions made using information published by Ballot Beacon. Users should independently verify important information through official government sources before making legal, financial, business, regulatory, or voting decisions.

Terms of Use

By accessing Ballot Beacon you agree to these policies. You agree not to use the site unlawfully, interfere with its operation, impersonate Ballot Beacon, scrape substantial portions of content, misrepresent summaries, or violate applicable intellectual property rights.

Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, all Ballot Beacon articles, graphics, newsletters, videos, logos, databases, layouts, and educational content are protected by copyright and other applicable law. You may share links and brief attributed quotations. Reproduction or redistribution of substantial portions requires written permission.

Third-Party Links

External links are provided as a convenience only. Ballot Beacon is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, accuracy, security, or availability of third-party websites.

Privacy & Communications

Subscribers may receive newsletters and service announcements. Users may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time. Personal information will be handled in accordance with Ballot Beacon’s Privacy Policy.

Disclaimer of Warranties

This website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, availability, completeness, or uninterrupted operation.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ballot Beacon shall not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, punitive, or similar damages arising from use of this website or reliance upon its content. If liability is established, maximum liability shall not exceed the greater of $100 or the amount paid by the user during the preceding twelve months.

Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ballot Beacon, its owners, officers, employees, contractors, editors, contributors, licensors, successors, and affiliates from claims arising from misuse of the website or violation of these policies.

Governing Law & Venue

These policies are governed by California law. Unless prohibited by law, disputes shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Orange County, California. Ballot Beacon recommends that arbitration, class-action waiver, and venue provisions be finalized by California legal counsel before publication.

Changes

Ballot Beacon may update this document from time to time. Continued use of the website after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policies.

Contact

Support Email: support@theballotbeacon.com
Phone: (888) 630-1688
Or visit our Support page.

Closing Commitment

Ballot Beacon is committed to accurate, understandable, and nonpartisan educational information. We believe citizens deserve access to clear explanations of the laws and public policies that shape everyday life. We welcome constructive feedback, credible corrections, and thoughtful dialogue. Our mission is not to tell you how to vote. Our mission is to help you understand what you are voting on.