Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia

app

Everyone, 2019, Education

WISE
72%

WISE Score

4.5

App Store

Civic engagement app that helps voters research candidates, track legislation, and figure out where they stand on the political spectrum.

Where to Find

App Store
App Store
Google Play
Google Play
Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: this isn't actually Ballotpedia the website—the synopsis describes ActiVote, a different civic engagement app. Confusing title aside, it's a solid tool for what it does.

If you've got a 16- or 17-year-old who's about to vote for the first time, this is genuinely useful. It takes the mystery out of down-ballot races (who even is the county clerk?) and helps teens figure out where they stand without the noise of social media hot takes. The daily policy questions are a good conversation starter at dinner.

That said, this isn't for younger kids. It requires real civic literacy and reading stamina. And in our current political climate, even 'nonpartisan' information can feel loaded depending on your family's views.

Bottom line: Great civics education tool for older teens and adults. Use it together the first few times to help your teen think critically about sources, bias, and how to evaluate candidates beyond party labels.

Age Fit

This is squarely for older teens (16+) who are approaching voting age and adults. Younger kids lack the civic knowledge, reading comprehension, and political context to use this meaningfully. Best introduced when a teen is starting to think about registering to vote.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Promotes civic engagement and democratic participation in a respectful, non-partisan way. Encourages informed decision-making and understanding of government processes. No manipulative content or chaotic pacing—just straightforward civics education.

Imaginative
42

This is a utilitarian civic tool, not a creative platform. While it encourages exploration of political positions and legislative processes, it's fundamentally informational rather than imaginative. No creative expression, building, or original thinking beyond self-assessment of political views.

Safe
85

No ads, explicit statement about not sharing personal data, and privacy policy in place. No social features or user-generated content that could expose kids to toxicity. However, political content can be inherently divisive and emotionally charged, especially in current climate. Some users may encounter information about controversial topics or candidates that could be distressing depending on family values.

Enriching
90

Exceptional civic education tool that teaches how government works at all levels. Helps users understand the legislative process, find their representatives, and make informed voting decisions. Builds critical thinking skills around policy positions and political alignment. Directly supports civic literacy and democratic participation—core life skills.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Teaches how government actually works—from President down to school board—with real data from official sources
  • Helps teens (and adults) prepare for voting by comparing their policy positions with actual candidates
  • No ads, no data sharing, and sources information from nonpartisan government databases
  • Daily policy questions help users understand current issues and see where they fall on the political spectrum
  • Practical civics education that makes abstract government concepts concrete and personal
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What to Watch For

  • This is really for older teens (16+) and adults—younger kids won't have the context or reading level to engage meaningfully
  • Political content can be emotionally charged, especially during election cycles
  • Requires location sharing to show local candidates and elections
  • Not a substitute for family conversations about values and political beliefs—it's a research tool, not a decision-maker

Conversation Starters

  • "What surprised you most about where you landed on the political spectrum?"
  • "Which local officials did you not even know existed? What do they actually do?"
  • "Did any candidate's positions surprise you compared to what you expected from their party?"
  • "What issues matter most to you when you think about voting someday?"

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