# direct democracy: Chicago — Democracy beyond the ballot

> Chicago civic engagement and election guide for residents. (iPhone/iPad app by Brian Carlisle.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/direct-democracy-chicago/id6797189381 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Brian Carlisle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616443346)
- Category: News, Social Networking
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 16.4 · 51 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-08-24
- Data updated: 2026-09-12
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/direct-democracy-chicago/id6797189381/reviews.md

## What is direct democracy?

Chicago's issues, ranked by people instead of politicians. City and ward-based discussion where neighbors decide what matters most.

Hold officials accountable: ask them anything in their AMA, and the community judges whether they really answered. Every official gets a grade from their residents' approval and their answers.

Your guide to the upcoming elections: every race on the November 3 ballot, including all 61 judges up for retention with bar association ratings, Congress, the state legislature, Cook County, and the school board. With the dates and places to vote and a reminder before each deadline.

Verify your address, and every vote shows two counts: all users and verified users. So you can see what your neighbors in your ward actually think.

## Key features

- Rank local issues
- City and ward-based discussions
- Official AMAs and accountability
- Election guide and voting information
- Address verification
- Verified user counts


## Frequently asked questions about direct democracy

### Does direct democracy: Chicago have ads?

No, direct democracy: Chicago is ad-free. This allows for an uninterrupted user experience focused on civic engagement and information.

### How often is direct democracy: Chicago updated?

The app was last updated on September 10, 2026, to version 1.1.2. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and maintenance.

### What devices does direct democracy: Chicago support?

direct democracy: Chicago is currently supported on iPhone devices. Future platform expansions may be considered based on user demand.

### What is the age rating for direct democracy: Chicago?

The app has an age rating of 12+, making it suitable for teenagers and adults interested in local civic matters.

### Can I see how my neighbors feel on direct democracy: Chicago?

Yes, the app allows you to see what your neighbors in your ward actually think. It provides counts for all users and verified users, offering insights into community sentiment.

### How does direct democracy: Chicago help hold officials accountable?

Officials can be asked anything in their AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions. The community then judges whether they truly answered, and each official receives a grade based on resident approval and their responses.

### What election information is available on direct democracy: Chicago?

The app provides a guide to upcoming elections, including every race on the ballot, judges up for retention with bar association ratings, Congress, state legislature, Cook County, and school board. It also includes voting dates, places, and deadline reminders.

### What is the user sentiment for direct democracy: Chicago?

Based on the available data, the app has a perfect 5.0-star rating from one review, indicating very positive initial user sentiment.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.1.2 — 2026-09-10

adding full Spanish support, alongside some visual updates

### 1.1.1 — 2026-09-09

Major election expansion, all races are included now

### 1.1.0 — 2026-09-05

School Board election added

### 1.0.3 — 2026-09-02

ama for mayoral candidates

### 1.0.2 — 2026-08-30

sources and fixes

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## More apps by Brian Carlisle

- [BeKin by the Waldgrave](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bekin-by-the-waldgrave/id6746952014)
- [Escape from Hades IRL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/escape-from-hades-irl/id6760863438)

All apps by Brian Carlisle: https://appshunter.io/developer/1616443346

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-12.*