MyBallot App – Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 29, 2025

1. Introduction

MyBallot is a non‑partisan voter‑education application created for residents of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, with whom we share it, and the choices you have.

2. Scope of This Policy

This Policy applies to information collected when you:

  • use the MyBallot mobile or web application (collectively, the “App”);

  • create or log in to a MyBallot account;

  • interact with MyBallot features such as candidate comparisons, ballot measures, personalized ballots, election Q&A, and voting reminders; or

  • contact us for support or feedback.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

Category Examples Purpose
Account & Profile Data Display name, email address, password (crypted), optional demographic and political preference details collected during onboarding Create and maintain your account; personalize content
Notes & Ballot Selections Private candidate notes, candidate selections, measure stances, selected election date Save your personal ballot and notes locally and across sessions
Voting Reminders Reminder date/time, selected early voting location, notification method preference Schedule reminders
Support & Feedback Messages you send us, bug reports Respond to inquiries and improve the App

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

Category Examples Purpose
Usage Data Pages viewed, features used, time spent, in‑App actions Analytics, service optimization
Device & Log Data Browser type, operating system, IP address, device identifiers, cookies Maintain security, diagnose issues
Local Storage Data brVotesBallotArchive, brVotesRemindersArchive, notes_{candidateId}, myBallotAppUser Persist your selections and notes on your device

3.3 Information from Third‑Party Services

Service Data Received Purpose
Social Logins (Google, Facebook, X) Auth token, public profile, email Authenticate and streamline sign‑up
Google Gemini API Text of your election Q&A prompt Provide AI‑generated answers (content is anonymized and not stored by MyBallot)

We do not collect government‑issued IDs, precise geolocation, or payment information.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  1. Operate the App: authenticate you, save your ballot, reminders, and settings.

  2. Provide Personalized Content: tailor candidate lists, ballot measures, and comparisons to your chosen election.

  3. Improve & Secure the Service: analyze usage, debug, prevent fraud.

  4. Communicate With You: deliver reminder notifications and respond to support requests.

  5. Comply With Legal Obligations: meet regulatory requirements and enforce our Terms of Service.

We rely on the following legal bases (where applicable): contract performance, legitimate interests, and your consent (for optional data and marketing communications).

5. Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We share data only:

  • With Service Providers under confidentiality agreements (e.g., authentication, cloud storage, Gemini API) strictly to perform services on our behalf.

  • For Legal Reasons if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of MyBallot, our users, or the public.

  • With Your Consent when you explicitly authorize us to share information (e.g., exporting your ballot by email).

  • In Aggregated/Anonymized Form that cannot reasonably identify you, for statistics and research.

6. Data Storage & Security

  • Local Storage First: Most user‑specific data (ballot, reminders, notes) is stored in your browser’s local storage, never leaving your device unless you choose to sync or export it.

  • Cloud Services: Account credentials and minimal profile data reside on secure servers located in the United States, protected by encryption in transit and at rest.

  • Security Measures: We employ industry‑standard safeguards, including HTTPS, access controls, periodic security reviews, and encryption of sensitive fields.

  • No method of transmission or storage is 100 % secure, but we continuously improve our protections.

7. Data Retention

Data Type Retention Period
Account & profile data Until you delete your account or for 2 years of inactivity
Local storage data Stored on your device until you clear your browser/app data or within App settings
Logs & analytics Up to 12 months, unless needed for security or legal purposes
Support correspondence As long as necessary to resolve your request and for audit purposes

8. Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

  • Access and obtain a copy of your personal data;

  • Correct inaccurate information;

  • Delete your data (right to erasure);

  • Port data to another service;

  • Object or Restrict certain processing;

  • Withdraw Consent at any time (does not affect prior lawful processing).

You can exercise these rights through in‑App settings or by contacting us (see Section 12).

9. Children’s Privacy

MyBallot is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If we learn that we have inadvertently gathered such data, we will delete it promptly.

10. International Users

Our servers are located in the United States. If you access MyBallot from outside the U.S., you consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information in the U.S. and other countries where we or our service providers operate.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via the App or email and indicate the “Effective Date” at the top. Continued use of the App after updates signifies acceptance of the revised Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Last revised: May 29, 2025

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