Privacy policy

Last updated October 3, 2026

Congress Report Card (congressreportcard.org) is run by Darrell Burch. This policy explains what information the site handles when you visit.

The short version

• The site has no accounts. It asks for your email address only if you choose to sign up for the weekly digest.
• What you type into the search box, including a ZIP code, stays in your browser. It is not sent to this site or to anyone else.
• The site itself sets no cookies. It counts visits without cookies and without identifying you. When advertising is running, Google sets cookies as described below.

Information stored in your browser

If you change the grading weights, your choice is saved in your browser's local storage so it is still there next time. It never leaves your device. You can remove it by pressing Reset to defaults or by clearing the site's data in your browser.

Information the hosting services receive

The site is hosted on GitHub Pages. Like every web host, GitHub receives your IP address and basic details about your browser when it sends you a page, and keeps logs for security. Member photos are loaded from the unitedstates.github.io project, which is also hosted by GitHub. The site owner has no access to these logs. See the GitHub privacy statement.

Weekly digest email

If you sign up for the weekly digest, your email address is stored by MailerLite, the service that sends the email. It is used only to send you the digest. It is not sold or shared with anyone else. MailerLite records whether an email was opened and which links were clicked. Every email has an unsubscribe link, and you can also ask to be removed using the contact address below. See the MailerLite privacy policy.

Visitor counts

The site uses GoatCounter to count visits. GoatCounter sets no cookies and does not follow you to other sites. For each page view it records the page address, the site that linked you here, your browser and operating system, your screen size and your country. Your IP address is used to work out the country and is not stored. Nothing recorded can identify you. See the GoatCounter privacy policy.

Advertising

The site is paid for by advertising from Google AdSense. When ads are shown:

• Google and its advertising partners use cookies and similar technologies to show ads, limit how often you see an ad and measure how ads perform.
• These cookies let Google and its partners show you ads based on your visits to this site and other sites.
• You can turn off personalized ads in Google's Ads Settings, or opt out of many ad companies' personalized ads at aboutads.info.
• Google explains how it uses this information at How Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Advertisers have no influence on the grades. Political ad categories are blocked so that ads on the site do not promote candidates or causes.

Visitors in Europe and the United Kingdom

If you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, you are asked for your consent before advertising cookies are used. You can decline, and you can change your choice at any time using the privacy link the consent message adds to the page. Under data protection law you also have the right to ask what personal data is held about you and to have it corrected or deleted. Because the site owner holds no personal data about visitors, requests about advertising data are best sent to Google using the links above.

Visitors in California and other U.S. states

The site owner does not sell personal information. Some state laws treat personalized advertising as "sharing" of data. You can opt out of it using the Ads Settings link above.

Children

The site is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 13. It does not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Links to other sites

The site links to Congress.gov, members' official websites and other outside sources. Their privacy policies apply once you leave this site.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the new version will be posted on this page with a new date.

Contact

Questions about this policy can be sent to Darrell Burch at contact@congressreportcard.org.