VoteShield
VoteShield is a nonprofit project of Protect Democracy Project that provides free machine learning-based anomaly detection on publicly available U.S. voter registration databases and absentee ballot data to state and local election administrators, currently available in 27 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What VoteShield does
VoteShield is a nonprofit project operated under Protect Democracy Project, a 501(c)(3) organization, that provides machine learning-based analysis of publicly available U.S. voter registration databases to state and local election administrators. The platform is provided free of charge and is currently available to election officials in 27 states, with underlying analysis data coverage spanning all 50 states. VoteShield's core technology applies ML algorithms to detect unusual changes and anomalies across weekly and monthly snapshots of voter files, identifying irregularities in voter registrations, removals, address changes, and absentee ballot requests that could indicate malicious interference, non-malicious errors, or communication problems undermining confidence in elections. Named users include the Iowa Secretary of State's office (deployed to all 99 Iowa county auditors) and the Michigan Bureau of Elections.
The platform comprises two interconnected products: the VoteShield platform, which focuses on voter registration database analysis using proprietary change detection algorithms and change scores, and the BallotShield platform, which monitors absentee ballot request information for unusual activity. VoteShield claims exclusive ownership of the analyses conducted and the change detection data generated. The legal entity is VoteShield Protection Services LLC, governed under District of Columbia law, and the entity generates no commercial revenue — operations are exclusively funded by Protect Democracy Project. Distribution is restricted to state and local election administrators in their respective states and to select approved individuals; accounts are free and require authentication via the app.voteshield.us portal.
VoteShield supplements its technical platform with published research and policy engagement, including an August 2021 anomaly detection methodology paper, an April 2022 assessment of absentee voter verification methods, and a July 2022 public comment letter to the North Carolina State Board of Elections on signature verification. Earned media coverage has appeared in Votebeat, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Governing, and GovTech. The go-to-market motion is direct outreach to election officials with no traditional sales infrastructure, and there are no commercial pricing tiers, no app store presence, and no public API.
VoteShield firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VoteShield
- Legal name
- VoteShield Protection Services LLC
- Website
- https://voteshield.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VoteShield is a nonprofit project of Protect Democracy Project that provides free machine learning-based anomaly detection on publicly available U.S. voter registration databases and absentee ballot data to state and local election administrators, currently available in 27 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VoteShield industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Election Security Software
- NAICS
- Legislative Bodies (921120), Other General Government Support (92119), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electoral Support & Election Observation (BPADAGAA)
Keywords
Where VoteShield is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
VoteShield business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Nonprofit Funding: VoteShield is a project of and exclusively funded by Protect Democracy Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The platform is provided free of charge to all state and local election administrators. No commercial revenue generation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Free access for election administrators |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
VoteShield product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VoteShield analyzes publicly available voter registration databases and mail ballot processing files using machine learning algorithms to detect unusual activity, track changes over time, and identify irregularities that may indicate malicious interference, errors, or data misinterpretation. It operates two platforms — the VoteShield Platform for voter roll change detection and the BallotShield Platform for absentee ballot request monitoring — both provided free of charge to state and local election administrators.
Product overview
VoteShield offers two interconnected platforms designed to protect the integrity of U.S. elections. The VoteShield Platform analyzes voter registration databases to detect unusual activity and identify irregularities, while the BallotShield Platform specifically monitors absentee ballot request information. Both platforms are made available free of charge to state and local election administrators and are part of a unified suite of election security tools under the VoteShield brand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VoteShield Platform A platform that analyzes publicly available voter registration databases to detect unusual activity, track changes to voter rolls, and identify irregularities that may be indicative of malicious interference, errors, or misinterpretation of data. Provided free of charge to state and local election administrators and select approved individuals.
- BallotShield Platform A platform that analyzes absentee ballot request information to detect unusual activity with respect to absentee ballot requests, complementing the voter registration analysis of the VoteShield platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Available in 27 states with active election official partnerships
Companies that use VoteShield
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
VoteShield technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
VoteShield partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
VoteShield competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Catalist: Catalist is a progressive-aligned voter data analytics company that maintains a comprehensive national voter file. While it serves political campaigns rather than election administrators, its voter data capabilities are adjacent to VoteShield's analytical work.
- Brennan Center for Justice (Election Integrity Program): Brennan Center is a larger nonprofit that conducts research and advocacy on election administration, including voter registration and voting access. Its election integrity work overlaps with VoteShield's mission but operates at a broader policy and research level.
- TargetSmart: TargetSmart provides voter data and analytics to political campaigns, advocacy groups, and some election administrators. Its voter file management and data quality tools are comparable to VoteShield's voter registration analysis but oriented toward commercial clients.
Others
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): The EAC is the federal agency that develops voluntary voting system guidelines and administers election administration resources. It is not a commercial competitor but is a key stakeholder in the election integrity ecosystem where VoteShield operates.
- Protect Democracy Project: VoteShield's parent nonprofit organization. Protect Democracy is a cross-ideological nonprofit dedicated to defeating authoritarian threats, with election integrity as one of several focus areas. It is the funding and operational umbrella under which VoteShield operates.
Direct peers
- National Vote at Home Institute: Vote at Home Institute focuses on mail ballot administration and absentee ballot integrity, directly overlapping with VoteShield's BallotShield product. Both are nonprofit organizations serving election officials with tools and research.
- Verified Voting: Verified Voting is a nonprofit that researches and advocates for secure election technology, including auditing and verifying election results. Like VoteShield, it focuses on election integrity as a nonpartisan nonprofit serving election officials and the public.
- Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR): CEIR is a nonprofit that works directly with state and local election officials to improve election administration, providing research and tools. It shares VoteShield's mission of working with election administrators to improve election integrity.
- Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC): ERIC is a nonprofit interstate compact that uses voter registration data to identify voters who have moved, died, or are registered in multiple states. It is the most directly comparable organization to VoteShield, operating in the same voter data integrity and election integrity space.
Regional players
- Pew Charitable Trusts (Election Initiatives): Pew's election initiatives have historically worked on voter registration modernization and election administration, including funding research and tools for state election officials. It is a comparable nonprofit engaged in election integrity work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VoteShield social profiles
Digital presenceVoteShield financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VoteShield leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
VoteShield funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VoteShield M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VoteShield
What does VoteShield do?
VoteShield analyzes publicly available voter registration databases and mail ballot processing files using machine learning algorithms to detect unusual activity, track changes over time, and identify irregularities that may indicate malicious interference, errors, or data misinterpretation. It operates two platforms — the VoteShield Platform for voter roll change detection and the BallotShield Platform for absentee ballot request monitoring — both provided free of charge to state and local election administrators.
Is VoteShield a public or private company?
VoteShield is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was VoteShield founded?
VoteShield was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VoteShield based?
VoteShield is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does VoteShield make money?
One revenue line is on record: nonprofit Funding.
Who are VoteShield's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Catalist, Brennan Center for Justice (Election Integrity Program) and TargetSmart. Others are U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and Protect Democracy Project. Direct peers are National Vote at Home Institute, Verified Voting, Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR) and Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Pew Charitable Trusts (Election Initiatives) is listed as a regional player.
Does VoteShield have an API?
No public API is recorded for VoteShield.
What industry is VoteShield in?
VoteShield's product category is Election Security Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAGAA, Electoral Support & Election Observation. Its NAICS code is 921120 and its SIC code is 7374.