On the Record: Public LedgerSupport

Find answers, report an error in the record, or suggest a feature.

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Want to help test OnTheRecord? Email support@5280labs.app to request an invitation.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the information come from?

Member names, offices, states, districts, and parties come from the official House Clerk and U.S. Senate member directories. House votes come from official House Clerk roll-call records. Each profile links to its source and shows when it was retrieved. The app's Our sources tab explains the evidence rules and which sources are excluded.

Does it need an internet connection?

An internet connection is needed to refresh the member list, load House votes and retrieve requested bill details. Dated bundled records and previously cached bill responses support some offline viewing. A dated copy of the member directories and a sample of recent House votes are built into the app, so you can browse offline. If a refresh fails, the app says so and keeps what it has.

Why don't I see Senate votes or positions yet?

This release includes official congressional identities and available House votes. Senate votes, issue positions, and campaign finance are not included. Reviewed reporting is a limited historical selection. These coverage limits do not mean that information does not exist elsewhere.

How is voting agreement calculated?

Agreement counts only roll calls where both members voted yes or no. Absences and “present” votes are left out, and the app shows how many votes were counted and excluded. Agreement shows how often two members voted the same way; it doesn't measure ideology or influence.

Does the app rate politicians or take sides?

No. There are no favorability scores or recommendations. Party and vote information is always labeled in words, and blue is simply the app's color.

Does it cover state or local politics, or other countries?

Not yet. Coverage is United States politics only, starting with Congress. State and local coverage may come later.

How much does it cost?

The download is free, with non-personalized ads and a one-time $0.99 U.S. Remove Ads purchase. There is no subscription. See the Privacy Policy for Google SDK collection and privacy choices. There is no subscription.

Is my data private?

There is no app account. Your political searches and questions stay on your device and are not supplied for ad targeting. Google’s advertising and consent SDKs can still collect device and connection information. Collection, consent choices and retention are described in the Privacy Policy.

Does it work on iPad?

Yes, on iPhone and iPad. The app follows your device's light or dark setting and scales with your text size.

Report an error in the record

If something in the app looks wrong or out of date, email us with the member's name, what you saw, and a link to an official source if you have one. Corrections are reviewed against official records, and the app shows correction history as that feature arrives.

· Email a correction

Suggest a feature

Tell me what you wanted to look up and what you'd like the app to show. Those details help decide what to build next.

· Email a feature idea