Frequently Asked Questions
What is a civic footprint?
Whether or not you vote or can name your state senator, you have a civic footprint — an imprint of your unique place in the civic world. Knowing your footprint is a key part of being able to get involved in your community.
Why did the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) create the Civic Footprint?
The Center for Neighborhood Technology's mission is "to invent and implement new tools and methods that create livable urban communities for everyone." Sustainable communities depend on active citizens who help make our democratic institutions work. The first step towards this vision is to find out where you stand and who stands for you. Using this website Cook County residents can find out who represents them so that they can stand up for the issues that impact their lives.
I've got an idea of how to make the Footprint even better. Who should I tell?
Every time we introduce the Footprint to a new group we discover new ways to make the site better. A number of the details you see on the Footprint today came from users like you. So don't hold back. If you have an idea, we want to hear it.
How can I support the development of the Civic Footprint?
First, help make the Civic Footprint a success. Share it with your friends, post it on your website and tell your organization about this new civic tool.
Second, you can support the Civic Footprint by making a donation to the Center for Neighborhood Technology.
Doesn't the Board of Elections offer a similar service?
Yes. The Chicago Board of the Elections maintains an online Keybook that you can use to find a numerical list of your political districts. The Cook County Board of Elections maintains an extensive directory of elected officials. The Civic Footprint provides users a personalized list of representatives and shows their political geography on a map, so they can see how the jigsaw puzzle of Illinois politics fits together. The Footprint is also dedicated to bringing users geographies that aren't listed on your voter registration card, such as your police beat.
Will you sell my address?
Nope. Never. We only ask for your address because we need it to make your Footprint.
Who can I call for more info?
Please feel free to contact us for any reason. Visit our feedback page or drop a line to Ben Helphand, the Civic Footprint's Project Manager at 773-269-4056 or ben@cnt.org.What if I find a mistake?
Even though we've tested the Footprint every way we can think of, we're sure to have missed something. If you find a mistake, no matter how small, please let us know.
What do I do with the Civic Footprint?
Use the Footprint to find out who represents you. You might be able to name your alderman, but do you know your state senator, police beat or precinct? The Footprint will tell you who represents you. You can also browse maps of your political geography. Illinois has more units of government than any other state. Use the Footprint to see where you fit into the puzzle of districts, wards and precincts. Finally, share the Footprint with others. Its great to know your own personal geography, but democracy is a collective activity. Pass the Footprint on to your friends, colleagues and students. Invite them to discover their own Civic Footprint.
The Civic Footprint has lots of uses, many of which we discover through users like you. For example, several Chicago Public School teachers have started using the Footprint in their civics classes, to help students with class assignments. One longtime community organizer told us he uses the footprint to help orient volunteers to the neighborhood. We look forward to hearing about the many creative ways users use the Footprint.
What are your plans for the future of the Civic Footprint?
In the coming year we will work closely with five organizations to develop tools and strategies that will further their respective missions while enhancing the Civic Footprint for all users. This will likely include an expansion of the scope of our data, improvements to our mapping capabilities, the development of a "how to" for civic participation in Illinois and increased user personalization.
How was the Civic Footprint made?
We started with these first-rate, open source software packages:
It's running on a pair of Relion 101s from Penguin Computing.
For geocoding, we use the Yahoo! Maps Geocoding API.