Welcome to BallotPal

How does Ballot Pal Work?

The main chatbot uses a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system. Instead of relying only on general AI knowledge, the AI pulls relevant information directly from candidate campaign websites and uses only that material to generate its responses. This approach helps not only to reduce inaccuracies and avoids “hallucinations,” but ensures that you know exactly where your information is coming from. It also means that if a candidate hasn’t addressed a particular issue on their website, BallotPAl may not be able to answer that question. This is a deliberate tradeoff in favor of accuracy and transparency.

Ways to Explore

Two discrete AI tools integrated into the website serve distinct purposes. The main Candidate Chat is the core of the system and is designed specifically for questions about candidates. Its responses are grounded only in campaign-provided materials, making it the best place to compare positions and understand how candidates present their platforms.

The General AI Assistant can answer broader or more contextual questions. Unlike the main chat, it is not limited to candidate websites and can access the internet, enabling it to provide different kinds of information.

Why is Ballot Pal Important?

BallotPal currently focuses on Democratic candidates in the U.S. House races in Pennsylvania, a high-impact swing state where relatively small changes in voter understanding can influence election outcomes. House races play a key role in shaping national policy, and recent elections in the state have been decided by narrow margins. By focusing here, BallotPAl aims to make high-quality, accessible candidate information available where it matters most.