Data Accuracy & Sources

Where our data comes from, how we compile it, and its limits

A service of 137 Finder LLC · Last updated: June 10, 2026

Accuracy and transparency are central to PolitiFinder. This page explains where our data comes from, how we put it together, its known limitations, and how to tell us about an error.

1. Our Commitment to Accuracy

We work hard to present accurate, well-sourced information, and we correct errors promptly when we find them or when you report them. At the same time, the data is informational and unofficial, and you should understand its limits (below) before relying on it.

2. Where Our Data Comes From

The current version (Beta) covers U.S. presidential elections. Our sources include:

Official Electoral College records (National Archives) for electoral-vote totals, 1789–2024.
MIT Election Lab (MEDSL) for modern popular-vote returns (1976 onward), cross-checked for earlier elections against standard references.
Wikidata and Wikipedia for biographical facts such as birth and death dates, home state, and party.
Wikimedia Commons for photographs, used under public-domain or Creative Commons licenses with attribution.

As we add other offices, we expect to draw on additional public sources (for example, the U.S. Congress and the Federal Election Commission), and we’ll update this page accordingly.

3. How We Compile It

We match and cross-reference records across sources, run validation checks, manually verify key figures, and keep an internal provenance and audit trail so that hand-verified values are preserved across future data refreshes.

4. Known Limitations and Scope

The current version covers presidential general elections only; other offices will follow.
Popular-vote totals begin with the 1824 election (the first with widespread popular voting); earlier elections show electoral votes only.
Some records may contain gaps or minor discrepancies between sources, and the dataset is undergoing a final single-source reconciliation before we treat it as definitive.

5. Not an Official Record

PolitiFinder is an informational, unofficial resource. For any official, legal, journalistic, academic, or financial purpose, verify information against official sources — such as the National Archives and state election authorities.

6. No Warranty

The data is provided “as is,” without warranty of accuracy or completeness, and your reliance on it is at your own risk. This summary is in addition to the disclaimers in our Terms of Service.

7. Help Us Improve — Report a Correction

Found something wrong? Email support@politifinder.com with the page URL, the specific data point, the value you believe is correct, and a source if you have one. We review every report against authoritative sources, correct the record when warranted, and log the change. We aim to acknowledge within five business days.

8. Photographs

Images are used under their respective licenses, with attribution. To request correction or removal of a specific image, see our DMCA / Copyright & Takedown Policy.

9. Contact

Questions about our data? Email support@politifinder.com.