Last year, I walked into my local library to return a book. There was a line. Polling booths. An election I didn't even know was happening.
I voted anyway because I'm already registered. But when I looked at that ballot, I felt a sinking feeling I know many of you have felt too: I barely recognized the names. I had no idea what some of those offices actually did. And I definitely didn't know where any of the candidates stood on issues I care about.
I voted. But I voted blind.
The moment I reached for my phone
As I dropped my ballot in the box, I thought: "Why isn't there a cheat sheet for this?" I wanted to pull out my phone and see who represents me, what their office does, how to reach them, what they've voted on, and when they're up for re-election — all in one place, without an account or giving up my personal information.
That's when I started building
I couldn't find an app that did all of this simply and privately. So I built one. The first piece of that vision is called Civic Sidekick — and it's live right now.
What Civic Sidekick does right now
Enter your zip code or address and instantly see every elected official who represents you, from the President down to your school board — their name, title, and party, office contact details, a plain-English explanation of what their office does, and links to their website and Wikipedia bio.
We don't ask for your email. We don't store your address. We don't track you.
What comes next
This is just the beginning. Future versions will include bill tracking, re-election reminders, town hall alerts, candidate comparison tools, and yes — a mobile app. But I need your help to get there.
I'm inviting you to test it
Take it for a spin. Enter your address. See who represents you. Then tell me what works, what's missing, and what would make you use this before every election. Your feedback will shape what comes next.
A promise to you
Civic Sidekick will always be free for the core features. It will never require an account or collect your personal data. That's not a marketing gimmick — it's a principle.
I built this because I believe better information leads to better participation. And better participation leads to better government. Now I just need to know if I'm building the right thing.
Together, let's make sure no one ever has to vote blind again.
— The founder, Civic Sidekick