This document outlines lessons learned from building Cicero Data's database of elected officials. It discusses that political geographies are complicated, election data changes frequently so the database must be constantly updated, the data can only be as good as its sources, change requires civic engagement efforts like Cicero, and that achieving their mission of being a global resource for democracy data requires partnerships since they can't do it alone. The document promotes Cicero Data's services and explains their origin as a civic engagement project.

1. Lessons Learned from
Building Democracy’s
Database
cicerodata.com

2. 519,682

3. How many elected
officials in the world?

6. We advance the state-of-the-art in
geospatial technology and apply it for
civic, social, and environmental impact.
Azavea’s Mission

8. Cicero’s Origin Story
A tale of civic engagement.

10. Studies have shown that fewer than 20%
of Americans can name their state
legislators.

11. cicerodata.com

12. cicerodata.com

13. Our mission: To be the global resource for
elected official information and
geographic data on elections and
democracy.

14. Lesson 1:
Political Geographies
are complicated

15. cicerodata.com

19. Lesson 2:
Election data
changes frequently

23. Lesson 3

27. Lesson 3:
Your data is only
as good as its source

29. Lesson 4:
Change won’t
happen without this

36. Lesson 5:
We can’t do this alone

37. cicero@azavea.com
@ciceroAPI
Thank you!