Privacy Policy
We collect the minimum data needed to help you understand elections and voting, and we're transparent about how it's used.
Last updated: July 2026
Data We Collect
- Anonymous session data — created via Firebase Auth anonymous sign-in, used to keep your progress without requiring an account.
- Chat history — your conversations with the AI assistant, stored in Firestore so you can pick up where you left off.
- Quiz progress — your answers and completion status for Guided Path lessons.
- Location data — only if you choose to share it, used via the Google Maps API to help you find nearby polling stations. This is never stored beyond your active session.
Third-Party Services
BallotIQ relies on the following Google services to operate. Each processes a limited slice of your data solely to power the related feature.
Firebase
Authentication and Firestore database for session and chat storage.
Gemini API
Powers the AI assistant that answers your questions and generates guides.
Google Cloud Translation / TTS
Translates content and reads it aloud in your preferred language.
Google Maps API
Helps locate nearby polling stations when you share your location.
Data Retention
- Generated country guides are cached for 24 hours to keep answers fast and reduce redundant AI calls.
- Chat history and quiz progress are kept as long as your anonymous session remains active, so you can resume later on the same device.
- Location data is used only in the moment you request it and is not retained.
Your Rights
You can clear your session data at any time by clearing your browser storage or starting a new anonymous session. Since we don't collect personal identifiers, most data is tied only to your device's anonymous session and is not linked to your real identity. If you have questions about your data or would like something removed, reach out using the contact details below.
Contact Us
Have questions about this policy or how your data is handled? Open an issue on our GitHub repository and we'll get back to you.