CivicAide

A (unofficial) Ruby wrapper to interact with the Google Civic Information API.

Currently the API only provides information for the United States.

Installation

Add this line to your application's Gemfile:

gem 'civic_aide'

And then execute:

$ bundle

Or install it yourself as:

$ gem install civic_aide

Usage

Setup

The Google Civic Information API requires an API key, so before you start grab a server API key from the Google Cloud Console.

The current default API limits for the Google Civic Information API are 1/request/second/user and 25,000 requests/day.

Response

All responses are wrapped in a hashie object that can be accessed in a number of ways. All methods have been rubyify'ed but those matching Open Civic Data identifiers (e.g. ocd-division/country:us/state:nc/county:durham).

Additionally, to avoid clashing with the Array#zip Ruby method, any zip address fields in the API response have been renamed to zip_code.

Configuration

api_key = "ABCaSyD5aMsdmaXxHc7aiUyYuVXtCICV-y_PWnf5w"
client = CivicAide::Client.new(api_key)

Alternatively, the API key can be set with global configuration and the resources can be accessed directly.

CivicAide.api_key = "ABCaSyD5aMsdmaXxHc7aiUyYuVXtCICV-y_PWnf5w"
CivicAide.elections.all

To receive data that is only from official state sources, set CivicPage.official_sources to true. By default this is set to false.

CivicAide.official_sources = true
# or
client.official_sources = true

Resources

Elections

All elections

To fetch a list of all available elections and their ids.

client.elections.all

Sample response

{"elections"=>
  [{"id"=>"2000", "name"=>"VIP Test Election", "election_day"=>"2015-06-06"},
   {"id"=>"4000",
    "name"=>"U.S. 2012 General Election",
    "election_day"=>"2012-11-06"},
   {"id"=>"4001",
    "name"=>"Los Angeles City Primary",
    "election_day"=>"2013-03-05"},
   {"id"=>"4002",
    "name"=>"California Combined Special Elections",
    "election_day"=>"2013-03-12"},
   {"id"=>"4003",
    "name"=>"South Carolina HD-01 Special Primary",
    "election_day"=>"2013-03-19"},
   {"id"=>"4004",
    "name"=>"California Special Election SD-32",
    "election_day"=>"2013-05-14"},
   {"id"=>"4005",
    "name"=>"Los Angeles City Election",
    "election_day"=>"2013-05-21"},
   {"id"=>"4006",
    "name"=>"South Carolina HD-01",
    "election_day"=>"2013-05-07"},
   {"id"=>"4007", "name"=>"New Jersey Primary", "election_day"=>"2013-06-04"},
   {"id"=>"4008", "name"=>"Virginia Primary", "election_day"=>"2013-06-11"},
   {"id"=>"4009",
    "name"=>"Delaware Presidential Primary 2012",
    "election_day"=>"2013-09-01"},
   {"id"=>"4010",
    "name"=>"NYC 2013 Mayoral Primary",
    "election_day"=>"2013-09-10"},
   {"id"=>"4011",
    "name"=>"NYC 2013 Mayoral Primary Runoff",
    "election_day"=>"2013-10-01"},
   {"id"=>"4012",
    "name"=>"NJ 2013 U.S. Senate Special Election",
    "election_day"=>"2013-10-16"},
   {"id"=>"4013",
    "name"=>"NYC 2013 Mayoral Election",
    "election_day"=>"2013-11-05"},
   {"id"=>"4014", "name"=>"NJ State Election", "election_day"=>"2013-11-05"},
   {"id"=>"4015", "name"=>"VA State Election", "election_day"=>"2013-11-05"},
   {"id"=>"4016",
    "name"=>"MN 2013 Municipal General",
    "election_day"=>"2013-11-05"}]}

Find election info by address

After finding the id for the election you want, pass the election id and the voter's registered address. election is an alias for elections.

client.election(4015).at('4910 Willet Drive, Annandale, VA 22003')

Sample Response

{"election"=>
  {"id"=>"4015", "name"=>"VA State Election", "election_day"=>"2013-11-05"},
 "normalized_input"=>
  {"line1"=>"4910 willet dr",
   "city"=>"annandale",
   "state"=>"VA",
   "zip_code"=>"22003"},
 "contests"=>
  [{"type"=>"general",
    "special"=>"no",
    "office"=>"Governor",
    "district"=>{"name"=>"Statewide", "scope"=>"statewide"},
    "ballot_placement"=>"4",
    "candidates"=>
     [{"name"=>"Ken T. Cuccinelli II",
       "party"=>"Republican",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.cuccinelli.com",
       "phone"=>"8047863808",
       "email"=>"ken@cuccinelli.com"},
      {"name"=>"Robert C. Sarvis",
       "party"=>"Libertarian",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.robertsarvis.com",
       "email"=>"info@robertsarvis.com"},
      {"name"=>"Terry R. McAuliffe",
       "party"=>"Democrat",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.terrymcauliffe.com",
       "phone"=>"7038227604",
       "email"=>"info@terrymcauliffe.com"}],
    "sources"=>[{"name"=>"Voting Information Project", "official"=>true}]},
   {"type"=>"general",
    "special"=>"no",
    "office"=>"Attorney General",
    "district"=>{"name"=>"Statewide", "scope"=>"statewide"},
    "ballot_placement"=>"6",
    "candidates"=>
     [{"name"=>"Mark D. Obenshain",
       "party"=>"Republican",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.markobenshain.com",
       "phone"=>"5404371451",
       "email"=>"campaign@markobenshain.com"},
      {"name"=>"Mark R. Herring",
       "party"=>"Democrat",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.herringforag.com",
       "phone"=>"7036699090",
       "email"=>"kevin@herringforag.com"}],
    "sources"=>[{"name"=>"Voting Information Project", "official"=>true}]},
   {"type"=>"general",
    "special"=>"no",
    "office"=>"Sheriff",
    "district"=>{"name"=>"FAIRFAX COUNTY"},
    "ballot_placement"=>"11",
    "candidates"=>
     [{"name"=>"Stacey Ann Kincaid",
       "party"=>"Democrat",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://staceykincaid.com",
       "phone"=>"7039381658",
       "email"=>"Kincaidforsheriff@gmail.com"},
      {"name"=>"Christopher F. DeCarlo",
       "party"=>"Independent",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.honestyandethics.com",
       "phone"=>"7035736160",
       "email"=>"cdecarlo@fairfaxpropane.com"},
      {"name"=>"Bryan A. /B. A./ Wolfe",
       "party"=>"Republican",
       "candidate_url"=>"http://www.wolfeforsheriff.com",
       "phone"=>"7035436360",
       "email"=>"fairfaxwolfe@yahoo.com"},
      {"name"=>"Robert A. Rivera",
       "party"=>"Independent",
       "phone"=>"7039783034",
       "email"=>"riveraforsheriff@gmail.com"}],
    "sources"=>[{"name"=>"Voting Information Project", "official"=>true}]},
   {"type"=>"Referendum",
    "special"=>"no",
    "office"=>"School Bonds",
    "district"=>{"name"=>"FAIRFAX COUNTY", "id"=>"59"},
    "ballot_placement"=>"9999",
    "sources"=>[{"name"=>"Voting Information Project", "official"=>true}]}],
 "state"=>
  [{"name"=>"Virginia",
    "election_administration_body"=>
     {"name"=>"State Board of Elections",
      "election_info_url"=>"http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/",
      "election_registration_url"=>"https://www.vote.virginia.gov/",
      "election_registration_confirmation_url"=>
       "https://www.vote.virginia.gov/",
      "absentee_voting_info_url"=>
       "http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/absenteevoting.html",
      "voting_location_finder_url"=>"https://www.vote.virginia.gov/",
      "ballot_info_url"=>"https://www.vote.virginia.gov/",
      "election_rules_url"=>"http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/",
      "physical_address"=>
       {"location_name"=>"State Board of Elections",
        "line1"=>"Washington Building First Floor",
        "line2"=>"1100 Bank Street",
        "city"=>"Richmond",
        "state"=>"VA",
        "zip_code"=>"23219"}},
    "local_jurisdiction"=>
     {"name"=>"FAIRFAX COUNTY",
      "election_administration_body"=>
       {"name"=>"FAIRFAX COUNTY",
        "election_info_url"=>"http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections",
        "election_registration_url"=>"http://www.vote.virginia.gov",
        "election_registration_confirmation_url"=>
         "http://www.vote.virginia.gov",
        "absentee_voting_info_url"=>"http://www.vote.virginia.gov",
        "voting_location_finder_url"=>"http://www.vote.virginia.gov",
        "ballot_info_url"=>"http://www.vote.virginia.gov",
        "election_rules_url"=>"http://www.vote.virginia.gov",
        "hours_of_operation"=>
         "8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Monday-Wednesday and Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday",
        "physical_address"=>
         {"location_name"=>"FAIRFAX COUNTY",
          "line1"=>"OFFICE OF ELECTIONS",
          "line2"=>"12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY",
          "line3"=>"SUITE 323",
          "city"=>"FAIRFAX",
          "state"=>"VA",
          "zip_code"=>"22035-0081"},
        "election_officials"=>
         [{"name"=>"CAMERON P. QUINN",
           "title"=>"General Registrar Physical",
           "office_phone_number"=>"7033244715",
           "email_address"=>"cameronquinn@fairfaxcounty.gov"}]},
      "sources"=>[{"name"=>"Voting Information Project", "official"=>true}]},
    "sources"=>[{"name"=>"Voting Information Project", "official"=>true}]}]}

Representatives

Retrieve political geography and representative information based on an address.

client.representatives.at('118 E. Main St. Carrboro, NC 27510')

Response (shortened some to save space)

{"normalized_input"=>
  {"line1"=>"118 e main st",
   "city"=>"carrboro",
   "state"=>"NC",
   "zip_code"=>"27510"},
 "divisions"=>
  {"ocd-division/country:us/state:nc/cd:4"=>
    {"name"=>"North Carolina's 4th congressional district",
     "scope"=>"congressional",
     "office_ids"=>["O0"]},
   "ocd-division/country:us/state:nc"=>
    {"name"=>"North Carolina",
     "scope"=>"statewide",
     "office_ids"=>
      ["O1", "O2", "O3", "O4", "O5", "O6", "O7", "O8", "O9", "Oa", "Ob"]},
   "ocd-division/country:us/state:nc/place:carrboro"=>
    {"name"=>"Carrboro town", "scope"=>"citywide"},
   "ocd-division/country:us"=>
    {"name"=>"United States", "scope"=>"national", "office_ids"=>["Oc", "Od"]},
   "ocd-division/country:us/state:nc/county:orange"=>
    {"name"=>"Orange County",
     "scope"=>"countywide",
     "office_ids"=>["Oe", "Of", "O10", "O11", "O12"]}},
 "offices"=>
  {"o0"=>
    {"name"=>"United States House of Representatives NC-04",
     "level"=>"federal",
     "official_ids"=>["P0"]},
   "o1"=>{"name"=>"Governor", "level"=>"state", "official_ids"=>["P1"]},
   "o2"=>{"name"=>"State Auditor", "level"=>"state", "official_ids"=>["P2"]},
   "o3"=>{"name"=>"State Treasurer", "level"=>"state", "official_ids"=>["P3"]},
   "o4"=>
    {"name"=>"Attorney General", "level"=>"state", "official_ids"=>["P4"]},
   "o5"=>
    {"name"=>"Secretary of State", "level"=>"state", "official_ids"=>["P5"]},
   "o6"=>
    {"name"=>"Lieutenant Governor", "level"=>"state", "official_ids"=>["P6"]},
   "o7"=>
    {"name"=>"United States Senate",
     "level"=>"federal",
     "official_ids"=>["P7", "P8"]},
 "officials"=>
  {"p4"=>
    {"name"=>"Roy Cooper",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"9001 Mail Service Center",
        "city"=>"raleigh",
        "state"=>"NC",
        "zip_code"=>"27699"}],
     "phones"=>["(919) 716-6400"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.ncdoj.gov/"],
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"157759274279900"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"NCAGO"}]},
   "p5"=>
    {"name"=>"Elaine Marshall",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"NC Secretary of State PO Box 29622",
        "city"=>"raleigh",
        "state"=>"NC",
        "zip_code"=>"27626"}],
     "phones"=>["(919) 807-2000"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.sosnc.com/"]},
   "p6"=>
    {"name"=>"Dan Forest",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"20401 Mail Service Center",
        "city"=>"raleigh",
        "state"=>"NC",
        "zip_code"=>"27699"}],
     "party"=>"Republican",
     "phones"=>["(919) 733-7350"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.ltgov.state.nc.us/"],
     "emails"=>["lt.gov@nc.gov"],
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"DanForestNC"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"DanForestNC"}]},
   "p7"=>
    {"name"=>"Kay R. Hagan",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"521 Dirksen Senate Office Building",
        "city"=>"washington",
        "state"=>"DC",
        "zip_code"=>"20510"}],
     "party"=>"Democratic",
     "phones"=>["(202) 224-6342"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.hagan.senate.gov/"],
     "photo_url"=>
      "http://www.senate.gov/general/resources/graphic/medium/Hagan_200.jpg",
     "emails"=>["Senator_Hagan@hagan.senate.gov"],
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"SenatorHagan"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"SenatorHagan"},
       {"type"=>"YouTube", "id"=>"SenatorHagan"}]},
   "p8"=>
    {"name"=>"Richard Burr",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"217 Russell Senate Office Building",
        "city"=>"washington",
        "state"=>"DC",
        "zip_code"=>"20510"}],
     "party"=>"Republican",
     "phones"=>["(202) 224-3154"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.burr.senate.gov/public/"],
     "photo_url"=>"http://bioguide.congress.gov/bioguide/photo/B/B001135.jpg",
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"SenatorRichardBurr"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"senatorburr"},
       {"type"=>"YouTube", "id"=>"SenatorRichardBurr"}]},
   "p9"=>
    {"name"=>"Cherie Berry",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"NC Department of Labor 1101 Mail Service Center",
        "city"=>"raleigh",
        "state"=>"NC",
        "zip_code"=>"27699"}],
     "phones"=>["(919) 807-2796"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.nclabor.com/"],
     "emails"=>["Commissioners.Office@labor.nc.gov"]},
   "p10"=>
    {"name"=>"Wayne Goodwin",
     "urls"=>["http://www.ncdoi.com/"],
     "emails"=>["Commissioner@ncdoi.gov"],
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"ncdoi"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"NCInsuranceDept"}]},
   "p11"=>
    {"name"=>"Steve Troxler",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"1001 Mail Service Center",
        "city"=>"raleigh",
        "state"=>"NC",
        "zip_code"=>"27699"}],
     "phones"=>["(919) 707-3021"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.ncagr.gov/"]},
   "p12"=>
    {"name"=>"June Atkinson",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>
         "Office of the State Superintendent NC Education Building 6301 Mail Service Center",
        "city"=>"raleigh",
        "state"=>"NC",
        "zip_code"=>"27699"}],
     "phones"=>["(919) 807-3430"],
     "urls"=>["http://www.ncpublicschools.org/statesuperintendent/"],
     "emails"=>["june.atkinson@dpi.nc.gov"]},
   "p13"=>
    {"name"=>"Barack Hussein Obama II",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"The White House",
        "line2"=>"1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW",
        "line3"=>"",
        "city"=>"Washington",
        "state"=>"DC",
        "zip_code"=>"20500"}],
     "party"=>"Democrat",
     "phones"=>["(202) 456-1111", "(202) 456-1414"],
     "urls"=>
      ["http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/",
       "http://www.barackobama.com/index.php"],
     "photo_url"=>
      "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/admin_official_lowres/administration-official/ao_image/president_official_portrait_hires.jpg",
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"GooglePlus", "id"=>"110031535020051778989"},
       {"type"=>"YouTube", "id"=>"barackobama"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"barackobama"},
       {"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"barackobama"}]},
   "p14"=>
    {"name"=>"Joseph (Joe) Robinette Biden Jr.",
     "address"=>
      [{"line1"=>"The White House",
        "line2"=>"1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW",
        "line3"=>"",
        "city"=>"Washington",
        "state"=>"DC",
        "zip_code"=>"20500"}],
     "party"=>"Democrat",
     "urls"=>["http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden"],
     "photo_url"=>
      "http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/admin_official_lowres/administration-official/ao_image/vp_portrait.jpeg",
     "channels"=>
      [{"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"JoeBiden"},
       {"type"=>"Facebook", "id"=>"joebiden"},
       {"type"=>"Twitter", "id"=>"VP"}]}}

Improvements

If you find an error with the data, please let Google know.

If you find an error with the gem, please add an issue. Feedback is appreciated!

Contributing

Fork it
Create your feature branch (git checkout -b my-new-feature)
Commit your changes (git commit -am 'Add some feature')
Push to the branch (git push origin my-new-feature)
Create new Pull Request

civic_aide

Development

Runtime