Funding and editorial independence

Smarter.Vote LLC retains final authority over research methods, sources, findings, confidence labels, forecasts, corrections, and publication. Financial support never guarantees coverage or favorable treatment.

We will not accept institutional funding from political candidates or campaigns, political parties, PACs, ballot committees, foreign political actors, undisclosed institutional funders, or anyone conditioning payment on an editorial outcome.

We may also decline funding that creates a material conflict, threatens reader trust, or cannot be disclosed appropriately. These rules apply even when funding would otherwise expand coverage.

Funding may help prioritize a geography or coverage category only through published quality standards; it cannot change what the research says. Individual recognition will be private by default and opt-in. We disclose institutional relationships at the program level, including the sponsor and purpose. We will publish amount bands after those bands receive appropriate professional review.

Until disclosure bands and exceptions are approved, Smarter.Vote LLC uses specific written agreements and does not promise anonymity or public recognition.

Smarter.Vote LLC is not presenting itself as a nonprofit or tax-exempt charity. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Supporter allocation choices are nonbinding preferences unless a written agreement expressly creates a restriction.