About & credits
We Elect helps you find the officials who represent you. It is an independent, nonpartisan project and is not affiliated with any government agency, political party or campaign. Information may be out of date; confirm with official sources.
★
Data
- Address matching and district boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder.
- Federal officials: unitedstates/congress-legislators (CC0 public domain). Photos: unitedstates/images.
- State legislators and some mayors: Open States people data (CC0).
- House votes: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Senate votes: Voteview (UCLA), linking to Senate.gov records.
- Elections panel: federal seats up are derived from congress-legislators term end dates. Poll hours, early-voting windows, voter-registration and mail-ballot deadlines (each linked to the state election office page it came from) and statewide ballot measures: Ballotpedia. Governor and state legislative seats up: Wikipedia, 2026 gubernatorial elections and state legislative elections (CC BY-SA). Official polling-place lookups: each state's election office. Exact polling places, when enabled: Google Civic Information API / Voting Information Project. Election Day: 2 U.S.C. §7.
★
Maps
State and territory outlines and the national background outline are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Cartographic Boundary Files, cb_2023_us_state_500k (census.gov), simplified and re-projected (Albers equal-area). U.S. Government works are not subject to copyright; the Census Bureau asks that it be cited as the source. These generalized boundaries are for illustration only and are not legal boundaries.
★
Voting-locations map
The small map in the Elections panel uses Leaflet 1.9.4 (BSD 2-Clause licence, © Volodymyr Agafonkin and CloudMade; hosted on this site, unmodified). Base map tiles are © OpenStreetMap contributors, data under the Open Database Licence (ODbL), loaded directly by your browser from the OpenStreetMap Foundation's tile servers under its Tile Usage Policy and softened with a CSS colour filter. Voting-site positions come from the Voting Information Project (via the Google Civic Information API) and, where missing, the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
★
How we write both sides
We Elect is a Brunner Creative site. The “Both sides” summaries are editorial content that summarize arguments made by others. They are not the opinion of We Elect, they do not say who is right, and they carry no ratings.
- Choosing votes. We pick recent, recorded roll-call votes on widely covered bills, aiming for a mix of House and Senate and of topics, and for votes with some bipartisan support where possible. We do not choose votes by which party they help or hurt.
- Same format, same weight. Every item has a plain-language description of what the bill did, then “Strongest case for” and “Strongest case against,” always in that order, each 2–4 sentences. Each side is written the way its own supporters would recognize it. No party colors are used on the arguments.
- What neither side is saying. Below the two sides, each item has a full-width section of two to four short, sourced facts that the arguments above do not address. A point is included only if (1) it concerns what the bill does, what it costs, how it is carried out, or who it affects; (2) none of the for or against arguments we cite already covers it; (3) it comes from a source we opened and read, preferring statute text, CBO, CRS, GAO and inspectors general; and (4) it can be stated without saying whether the bill is good or bad or what Congress should do. Where estimates differ or data are missing, we say so. We never pick a point because it helps or hurts a party. This section is editorial context, not the opinion of We Elect, and carries the same last-reviewed date as the rest of the item.
- Sourcing rules. Every claim is tied to a numbered source that we opened and read. We prefer primary records (Congress.gov and CRS summaries, House and Senate roll calls, committee statements) and add think tanks, advocacy groups and news outlets from different perspectives. We attribute arguments to the people or groups who make them, quote only exact words, and take numbers from the source cited. If sources disagree, or we cannot verify a claim, we say so or leave it out. Nothing is presented as fact unless a source supports it.
- Dates and updates. Each item shows when it was last reviewed (currently 2026-10-26). Analyses cited may be updated after our review date.
- Corrections. If you think a fact is wrong or a side is missing its strongest argument, please contact Brunner Creative, the publisher of this site; a dedicated corrections address will be posted here once available.
★
Both-sides sources
Source links for each featured vote. Opening them is the best way to check our work.
Laken Riley Act
- S.5 – Laken Riley Act, summary — Congress.gov (CRS summary) (Government record, 2025-01-29)
- Heritage Border Security Experts Applaud Passage of Laken Riley Act… — The Heritage Foundation (Think tank statement, 2025-01-29)
- Britt, Budd Introduce Laken Riley Act in Senate — Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) (Official statement, 2024-03-13)
- Immigration experts share concern about new Laken Riley Act — Medill on the Hill (Northwestern University) (News report, 2025-01)
- Senate passes Laken Riley Act aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration — NBC News (News report, 2025-01-20)
- Letter urging a NO vote on H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act — American Civil Liberties Union (Advocacy group letter, 2025-01)
- Federal Court Declares Noncitizen’s Detention Under Laken Riley Act Unconstitutional — American Civil Liberties Union (Advocacy group statement, 2025)
- ICE estimates it would need $26.9 billion to enforce GOP deportation bill — NPR (News report, 2025-01-16)
- Congress passes migrant detention bill that DHS said it can’t enforce without more resources — Government Executive (News report, 2025-01-24)
- Immigration Detention: A Legal Overview (R45915) — Congressional Research Service (Government record (CRS), 2019-09-16)
GENIUS Act (stablecoins)
- S.1582 – GENIUS Act, summary — Congress.gov (CRS summary) (Government record, 2025-07-18)
- Senate passes landmark crypto regulation bill on a bipartisan vote, sending it to the House — NBC News (News report, 2025-06-17)
- Stablecoins after GENIUS: Private money, public debt, and the global dollar — Brookings Institution (Think tank analysis, 2026-08-19)
- Fact sheet: Critical Amendments to Fix the GENIUS Act (June 9, 2025) — Senate Banking Committee Democratic staff (Official statement (minority staff), 2025-06-09)
- The GENIUS Act Is Not Pure Genius (Jim Harper) — American Enterprise Institute (Think tank commentary, 2025-08-12)
- The GENIUS Act Is a Good Start, but Congress Could Make It Smarter (Norbert Michel) — Cato Institute (Think tank commentary, 2025-06-04)
- 12 U.S.C. § 5910: Treatment of payment stablecoin issuers in insolvency proceedings — U.S. Code (Office of the Law Revision Counsel) (Statute text, 2025-07-18)
- GENIUS Act Regulations: Final Rule (Bulletin 2026-50) — Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (Government record, 2026-10-23)
- Implementing the GENIUS Act for the Issuance of Stablecoins by Entities Subject to the Jurisdiction of the OCC (final rule) — Federal Register (Government record, 2026-10-23)
- Circle’s USDC Gains Versus Tether’s USDT (reporting on a JPMorgan analysis) — CoinDesk (News report, 2025-09-30)
- 12 U.S.C. § 5903: Requirements for issuing payment stablecoins — U.S. Code (Office of the Law Revision Counsel) (Statute text, 2025-07-18)
National Defense Authorization Act for FY2026
- FY2026 NDAA: Summary of Funding Authorizations (IN12641) — Congressional Research Service (Government record (CRS), 2026-01-20)
- House votes overwhelmingly to pass compromise NDAA — Roll Call (News report, 2025-12-10)
- Wicker and Reed Commend Final Passage of the FY2026 NDAA — Senate Armed Services Committee (Official statement, 2025-12-17)
- Trump signs $1tn annual US defense bill without fanfare — The Guardian / Reuters (News report, 2025-12-18)
- CPC Opposes the NDAA for FY2026 — Congressional Progressive Caucus (Official statement, 2025-09-10)
- Press Release: Independent Auditor’s Reports on the DoD FY 2025 Financial Statements — Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (Government record, 2025-12-19)
- Pentagon fails financial audit for 8th year in a row — Defense News (News report, 2025-12-19)
- Weapon Systems Annual Assessment (GAO-25-107569) — Government Accountability Office (Government record (GAO), 2025-06-11)
Shutdown-ending funding bill (FY2026)
- H.R.5371 – Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 — Congress.gov (CRS summary) (Government record, 2025-11-12)
- Senate passes bill to reopen the government as 8 Democrats join with Republicans — NBC News (News report, 2025-11-10)
- Democrats rebel after 8 senators cut a deal to end the shutdown without ACA funds — NBC News (News report, 2025-11-10)
- CRFB Reacts to End of America’s Longest Shutdown — Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (Think tank statement, 2025-11-12)
- The 2025 (FY2026) Government Shutdown: Economic Effects (R48832) — Congressional Research Service (Government record (CRS), 2026-01-29)
- A Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of the Government Shutdown on the Economy Under Three Scenarios, as of October 29, 2025 — Congressional Budget Office (letter hosted by the House Budget Committee) (Government record (CBO), 2025-10-29)
- Who gets back pay and who doesn’t after a government shutdown? — CBS News (News report, 2025-10)
- Permanent health tax credit extension would insure 3.8 million: CBO — Roll Call (News report, 2025-09-18)
- How Much More Would People Pay in Premiums if the ACA’s Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire? — KFF (Think tank analysis, 2026)
One Big Beautiful Bill Act (tax, Medicaid and energy)
- How Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” Ends Decades of Temporary Tax Policy Games in Washington — The Heritage Foundation (Think tank commentary, 2025-07-24)
- Will the OBBBA Tax Cuts Grow the US Economy? — Tax Foundation (Think tank analysis, 2026-02-03)
- CBO projects OBBBA to increase uninsured by 10 million, federal deficit by $3.4 trillion — American Hospital Association (AHA News) (Trade-group news summary of a CBO estimate, 2025-07-21)
- Tracking Implementation of the 2025 Reconciliation Law: Medicaid Work Requirements — KFF (Nonprofit research (health policy), 2026-09-29)
- House votes overwhelmingly to pass compromise NDAA — Roll Call (News report, 2025-12-10)
- $1 Trillion in Medicaid Cuts—$1 Trillion in Tax Giveaways for the Richest 1 Percent — Center for American Progress (Think tank analysis, 2025-07)
- SNAP and Related Nutrition Programs in P.L. 119-21: An Overview (R48552) — Congressional Research Service (Government record (CRS), 2025-08-15)
- IRA Tax Credit Repeal in the FY2025 Reconciliation Law: Part 1 (IN12624) — Congressional Research Service (Government record (CRS), 2025-12-12)
- Evaluating the OBBBA’s Energy Provisions (Shuting Pomerleau) — American Action Forum (Think tank analysis, 2025-07-07)
- 31 U.S.C. § 3101: Public debt limit (note on Pub. L. 119-21, § 72001) — U.S. Code (Office of the Law Revision Counsel) (Statute text, 2025-07-04)
★
Donations
Voluntary donations to We Elect, a Brunner Creative site, are made through Ko-fi and processed by Ko-fi; We Elect does not collect or store payment details. Donations do not influence what we publish.
★
Fonts
Playfair Display and Source Serif 4, both under the SIL Open Font License 1.1, via Fontsource.
★
State & territory flags
Flag images are from Wikimedia Commons. Each file's Commons page lists its license; all are marked public domain except Mississippi, whose flag design the State of Mississippi states "can be freely used by members of the public." No attribution is required by these licenses; sources are listed for transparency. Flags may carry the Commons "insignia" notice (government symbols that may have usage restrictions unrelated to copyright).
| State / territory | License (per Commons) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Public domain | Flag of Alabama.svg |
| Alaska | Public domain | Flag of Alaska.svg |
| American Samoa | Public domain | Flag of American Samoa.svg |
| Arizona | Public domain | Flag of Arizona.svg |
| Arkansas | Public domain | Flag of Arkansas.svg |
| California | Public domain | Flag of California.svg |
| Colorado | Public domain | Flag of Colorado.svg |
| Connecticut | Public domain | Flag of Connecticut.svg |
| Delaware | Public domain | Flag of Delaware.svg |
| Florida | Public domain | Flag of Florida.svg |
| Georgia | Public domain | Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg |
| Guam | Public domain | Flag of Guam.svg |
| Hawaii | Public domain | Flag of Hawaii.svg |
| Idaho | Public domain | Flag of Idaho.svg |
| Illinois | Public domain | Flag of Illinois.svg |
| Indiana | Public domain | Flag of Indiana.svg |
| Iowa | Public domain | Flag of Iowa.svg |
| Kansas | Public domain | Flag of Kansas.svg |
| Kentucky | Public domain | Flag of Kentucky.svg |
| Louisiana | Public domain | Flag of Louisiana.svg |
| Maine | Public domain | Flag of Maine.svg |
| Maryland | Public domain | Flag of Maryland.svg |
| Massachusetts | Public domain | Flag of Massachusetts.svg |
| Michigan | Public domain | Flag of Michigan.svg |
| Minnesota | Public domain | Flag of Minnesota.svg |
| Mississippi | Free use (design owned by the State of Mississippi, freely usable by the public) | Flag of Mississippi.svg |
| Missouri | Public domain | Flag of Missouri.svg |
| Montana | Public domain | Flag of Montana.svg |
| Nebraska | Public domain | Flag of Nebraska.svg |
| Nevada | Public domain | Flag of Nevada.svg |
| New Hampshire | Public domain | Flag of New Hampshire.svg |
| New Jersey | Public domain | Flag of New Jersey.svg |
| New Mexico | Public domain | Flag of New Mexico.svg |
| New York | Public domain | Flag of New York.svg |
| North Carolina | Public domain | Flag of North Carolina.svg |
| North Dakota | Public domain | Flag of North Dakota.svg |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Public domain | Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg |
| Ohio | Public domain | Flag of Ohio.svg |
| Oklahoma | Public domain | Flag of Oklahoma.svg |
| Oregon | Public domain | Flag of Oregon.svg |
| Pennsylvania | Public domain | Flag of Pennsylvania.svg |
| Puerto Rico | Public domain | Flag of Puerto Rico.svg |
| Rhode Island | Public domain | Flag of Rhode Island.svg |
| South Carolina | Public domain | Flag of South Carolina.svg |
| South Dakota | Public domain | Flag of South Dakota.svg |
| Tennessee | Public domain | Flag of Tennessee.svg |
| Texas | Public domain | Flag of Texas.svg |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Public domain | Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg |
| Utah | Public domain | Flag of Utah.svg |
| Vermont | Public domain | Flag of Vermont.svg |
| Virginia | Public domain | Flag of Virginia.svg |
| Washington | Public domain | Flag of Washington.svg |
| Washington, D.C. | Public domain | Flag of Washington, D.C..svg |
| West Virginia | Public domain | Flag of West Virginia.svg |
| Wisconsin | Public domain | Flag of Wisconsin.svg |
| Wyoming | Public domain | Flag of Wyoming.svg |
.svg){kind=link}
