Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us at info@electionbeacon.com
What is Election Beacon?
Election Beacon is a free, independent, nonpartisan voter matching platform. It matches voters with U.S. House and Senate candidates based on how closely their answers to a 30-question policy survey align. The platform is operated by Circino Inc., a Kentucky-based technology company with no affiliation to any political party or campaign.
Who is Election Beacon for?
Election Beacon is for any American voter who wants a clearer, more direct way to understand where federal candidates stand on the issues. Whether you follow politics closely or are just starting to research candidates before an election, Election Beacon gives you a straightforward way to find your best match based on real policy positions, not party labels, advertising, or name recognition.
Is Election Beacon free to use?
Yes, Election Beacon’s core features are completely free. Free users can complete the full 30-question survey, see their top-matching House and Senate candidate, and view those candidates’ full profiles. A Premium subscription unlocks the full ranked list of all candidates in your races, match percentages for every candidate, and the ability to compare your answers with any candidate.
Which elections does Election Beacon cover?
Election Beacon currently covers all U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate races across all 50 states. We are starting with federal races for the 2026 election cycle and plan to expand our coverage in future election years.
Is Election Beacon affiliated with any political party?
No. Election Beacon is operated by Circino Inc., an independent technology company with no affiliation to any political party, campaign committee, or political action committee. We do not accept funding from political organizations, and we do not permit political advertising on our platform. Our survey is designed to be balanced across the political spectrum; some questions lean toward more government involvement, others toward less, so that voters and candidates of all political orientations can answer honestly.
How is Election Beacon different from other voter information websites?
Most voter information websites compile candidate biographies, voting records, or news coverage. Election Beacon is different because both voters and candidates answer the exact same 30-question survey, and the matching is based purely on how similar their answers are. There is no editorial judgment, no party filtering, and no advertising influence. Every candidate appears in the results on equal terms, ranked only by how closely their positions align with yours.
When was Election Beacon launched?
Election Beacon launched in 2026 for the federal midterm election cycle. It is operated by Circino Inc., a Kentucky-based technology company.
How does the survey work?
The survey consists of 30 questions organized across 8 policy categories. You select your state and congressional district first, then answer each question on a 6-point scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. The survey is presented category by category with a progress bar showing where you are in the process. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.
What are the 8 survey categories?
The 8 categories are:
Why is there no neutral option on the survey?
The absence of a neutral option is a deliberate design choice. A neutral answer might seem fair, but in practice, 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 requiring everyone to lean one way or the other, we get more accurate and meaningful match results. You do not need to feel strongly about an issue; Somewhat Disagree and Somewhat Agree are perfectly valid answers. But we do ask everyone to pick a side.
Do I have to answer all 30 questions?
Yes. All 30 questions must be answered before your results are generated. This ensures that your match scores are based on a complete picture of your positions across all 8 categories, not just the ones you chose to answer.
Why do I need to select my state and congressional district?
Your state and congressional district determine which House and Senate candidates appear on your actual ballot. By selecting your location first, we ensure that your results only show the candidates who are actually running in your specific races, not candidates from other states or districts.
What if I don’t know my congressional district?
You can find your congressional district using our Polling Directory page, which links to official state election resources. You can also visit www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative to look up your district using your address. Your district number is also typically listed on your voter registration card.
How is my match score calculated?
Your match score is calculated by comparing your answer to a candidate’s answer on each of the 30 questions. The closer your answers are on the 6-point scale, the higher your alignment on that question. These question-level scores are averaged across all 30 questions to produce an overall match percentage. All questions are weighted equally; we do not place greater importance on any particular issue or category. That judgment belongs to you, not our algorithm.
Is the survey politically balanced?
Yes. The survey was designed to reflect real policy debates across the political spectrum. Some questions are framed from a perspective that favors more government involvement; others favor less. This balance is intentional; it ensures that voters and candidates of all political orientations can answer honestly without feeling the survey is designed to favor one side. The same survey is completed by all voters and all candidates with no variations.
Can I retake the survey?
Yes. You can retake the survey at any time by returning to the Voting Compass page. Your previous results will be replaced with your new answers. Free users’ results are session-based and are not saved between visits unless you have a Pro subscription.
What do I see in my results?
Your results show you your best-matching candidates in your U.S. House and Senate races. Free users see their top-matching candidate in each race with their full profile. Premium subscribers see the full ranked list of all candidates in both races, with match percentages for each candidate and the ability to compare answers.
What information is on a candidate’s profile?
Each candidate profile includes their name, party affiliation, race, contact information, campaign website, and social media channels. It also shows their overall match percentage with you, a summary of their positions across all 8 policy categories, their own short answer explanation for each category written in their own words, and their individual answer to each of the 30 survey questions. Premium subscribers can compare their answers with the candidate’s answers across all 30 questions.
What does the match percentage actually mean?
A match percentage reflects how similarly you and a candidate answered the survey. A score of 100% would mean you answered every question identically. A score of 50% means your answers were about as different as they were similar. A high match score does not mean a candidate will act on those positions if elected, and it does not constitute an endorsement by Election Beacon. A lower match score does not mean a candidate is a bad choice; it simply means your survey responses differ on more questions. Election Beacon gives you information. The decision is always yours.
Can I see how a candidate answered each individual question?
Yes. When you click on any candidate’s profile, you can see their answer to each of the 30 questions.
Can I save my results?
Free users’ results are available during their current session but are not saved between visits. Premium subscribers can save their results to their profile and return to view them at any time before the end of the election cycle.
What is the difference between Free and Pro?
The core survey and matching experience is free for all users. The difference is in how much of the results you can see:
Do I need to create an account to use Election Beacon?
No. Free users can complete the survey and see their top match results completely anonymously without creating an account or providing any personal information. An account is only required if you purchase a Pro subscription.
How do I upgrade to Pro?
You can upgrade to Pro from the results page after completing the survey, or from the Pricing page. Premium is an annual subscription billed once per year. Payment is processed securely through our payment provider, Stripe.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
As a general principle, all sales are final because Election Beacon Pro is a digital subscription with immediate access to full results. Contact us at info@electionbeacon.com with any billing concerns.
What happens to my Pro subscription after the election?
Your Pro subscription covers the full annual election cycle from the date of purchase. After the cycle ends, your subscription will not automatically renew; you will be notified before expiry and given the option to renew for the next election cycle.
Is there a discount for students, nonprofits, or low-income voters?
We do not currently offer specific discount tiers, but the free version of Election Beacon provides meaningful access to anyone who cannot or chooses not to pay. We are committed to ensuring that cost is never a barrier to accessing candidate matching information. If you have questions about access, contact us at info@electionbeacon.com.
Is Election Beacon anonymous?
Free users are completely anonymous. We do not collect your name, email address, or any identifying information when you use the free version. You complete the survey and receive your results without creating an account or providing any personal details. Pro subscribers provide their name, email, location, and payment information to create their account, as described in our Privacy Policy.
Do you sell my data?
We never sell your personal information or individual survey responses. We may share anonymized, aggregated data, meaning data that cannot be used to identify you personally, with research organizations, media, and other partners for civic research purposes. This aggregated data reflects broad polling trends, not individual voter responses. For full details see our Privacy Policy.
Who can see my survey answers?
Your individual survey answers are never publicly visible and are never linked to your identity for free users. They are used solely to calculate your match scores. For Pro users, your answers are stored in your profile and are only visible to you when logged in. We do not share individual voter answers with candidates, third parties, or anyone else.
Do you use cookies or tracking?
Election Beacon uses essential cookies to maintain your session while you complete the survey and view results. We do not use advertising tracking cookies or share browsing data with advertisers. For full details on our data practices see our Privacy Policy at www.electionbeacon.com/privacy.
How is my payment information protected?
Payment information for Pro subscriptions is processed by a third-party payment provider. We do not store your full credit card number or CVV on our servers. All payment transactions are encrypted and handled in accordance with PCI-DSS standards.
Can I request deletion of my data?
Yes. You can request deletion of your personal information at any time by contacting us at support@electionbeacon.com. We will process your request within 30 days. Free users have no stored personal data to delete. For Pro users, deletion of your account will remove your profile, saved results, and personal information from our systems, subject to any legal retention requirements.
Where can I read the full Privacy Policy and Terms of Service?
Our Privacy Policy is available at https://electionbeacon.com/privacy-policy/ and our Terms of Service is available at https://electionbeacon.com/user-agreement/. Both documents are also linked in the footer of every page on the platform.