Election Beacon is built on a simple but powerful idea: if voters and candidates answer the same questions honestly, the data speaks for itself. Our matching process is based on the Voting Advice Application model, an internationally tested methodology used in democracies across Europe and beyond to help voters make more informed choices. We have adapted this model specifically for the United States federal election system, covering U.S. House and Senate races across all 50 states.
This page explains exactly how it works, no black boxes, no hidden agendas.
We Identify Verified Candidates
Election Beacon uses official public records to identify all verified candidates running for U.S. House and Senate seats. Only candidates confirmed through official sources appear on the platform; we do not accept self-registration.
Candidates Are Invited to Complete the Survey
We contact each verified candidate directly via their official campaign contact information and invite them to complete our 30-question policy survey. Participation is voluntary.
Voters Select Their State and District
Before taking the survey, voters select their state and congressional district. This ensures that match results reflect only the candidates who will actually appear on their ballot.
Voters Answer the Same 30 Questions
Voters complete the identical 30-question survey across 8 policy categories. Every question is answered on a 6-point scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. There is no neutral option; more on why below.
The Algorithm Calculates Match Scores
Our matching algorithm compares the voter’s answers to each participating candidate’s answers question by question and calculates an overall match percentage. The closer the answers, the higher the match score.
Voters Receive Their Results
Free users see their top-matching House and Senate candidate. Premium subscribers see the full ranked list of all candidates in their races, with match percentages and the ability to compare their answers with any candidate.
The Election Beacon survey consists of 30 policy questions organized across 8 topic categories. Every question was designed to reflect real, current policy debates in the United States, the issues that Congress actually votes on.
Crucially, the survey is balanced across the political spectrum. Some questions are framed from a perspective that leans toward government intervention; others are framed from a perspective that favors less government involvement. This balance is intentional. It ensures that voters and candidates of all political orientations can answer honestly without feeling that the survey is designed to favor one side.
The same 30 questions are answered by both voters and candidates, no exceptions, no special versions, no customization. What you answer is exactly what every candidate answers.
Economy & Cost of Living
Federal economic policy, inflation, housing affordability, wages, and the government’s role in protecting households during economic hardship.
Health Care
Access to health insurance, prescription drug pricing, and whether the US health care system needs major reform.
Government & Democratic Functioning
Election integrity, political extremism, government transparency, and how well democratic institutions are working.
Crime, Safety & National Unity
Public safety investment, gun laws, police accountability, and the state of social and political division in America.
Corruption, Trust & Institutions
The influence of money in politics, corruption in government, and whether public institutions act in the public interest.
Immigration
Border security, comprehensive immigration reform, and the legal protections afforded to immigrants in the United States.
Environment & Climate Change
The urgency of climate action, investment in renewable energy, and the role of environmental regulations in protecting public health.
Other Social Issues
Abortion access, the cost of higher education, and the future of Social Security for coming generations.
Every question in the Election Beacon survey is answered on a 6-point scale:
1 — Strongly Disagree
2 — Disagree
3 — Somewhat Disagree
4 — Somewhat Agree
5 — Agree
6 — Strongly Agree
You will notice there is no middle or neutral option. This is a deliberate design choice — and an important one.
A neutral option might seem fair, but in practice, it creates two problems. First, it gives voters and candidates an easy way to avoid taking a position on difficult issues. Second, it makes matching less meaningful; if both a voter and a candidate answer ‘neutral’ on every question, they appear to be a perfect match despite neither having expressed a real view.
By removing the neutral option, we ask everyone, voters and candidates equally, to lean one way or the other. You do not need to feel strongly. ‘Somewhat Disagree’ and ‘Somewhat Agree’ are perfectly valid answers. But we do ask you to pick a side.
This approach is consistent with best practices in political science research and is used by leading voting advice applications around the world.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Somewhat Disagree | Somewhat Agree | Agree | Strongly Agree |
Once you complete the survey, our algorithm compares your answers to the answers submitted by each participating candidate in your congressional district and state.
For every question, we measure the distance between your answer and the candidate’s answer on the 6-point scale. A smaller distance means closer alignment on that issue. A larger distance means you see things differently.
These question-level scores are then aggregated across all 30 questions to produce an overall match percentage for each candidate. A score of 100% would mean you and the candidate answered every single question identically. A score of 50% means your answers were about as different as they were similar.
All 30 questions are weighted equally in the overall match score. We do not place greater importance on any single issue or category; that judgment belongs to you, not our algorithm.
A high match score means you and the candidate responded similarly across the survey. It does not mean the candidate will act on those positions if elected, nor does it constitute an endorsement by Election Beacon.
A low match score does not mean a candidate is a bad choice; it means your survey responses differ. You may still choose to vote for a candidate with a lower match score for reasons the survey does not capture.
Election Beacon gives you information. The decision is always yours.
To protect the integrity of the platform and ensure voters are seeing real, legitimate candidates, Election Beacon does not allow candidates to self-register.
Instead, we follow this process for every candidate on the platform:
This process eliminates the risk of fake or impersonated candidate profiles. If a candidate believes they have been incorrectly listed or omitted, they can contact us at candidates@electionbeacon.com.
Now that you know how Election Beacon works, take the Voting Compass and see which federal candidates align most closely with your values.
It takes about 15 minutes, it is completely free, and free users remain fully anonymous.
Still have questions? → Visit our FAQ