How to Use the BallotReady MCP in Claude

Q: Can Claude Desktop pull ballot measures for my local election?

Yes, it grabs exact referendum text using the getballotmeasures tool. Just provide the election ID and your agent will list everything voters will see on election day.

Q: Why doesn't my BallotReady connection work in Claude Desktop if I use the web interface?

You probably skipped the authentication step. Run getaccountcheck to verify your API credentials are valid. Custom connectors require a publicly reachable URL, so localhost setups will fail in the browser.

Q: Does BallotReady show current officeholders for my district?

It pulls the active politicians for any jurisdiction using getofficeholders. Give your agent a district ID, and it returns the names and terms of the people currently sitting in those seats.

Get live civic data and election tracking right inside Claude Desktop.

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Connect BallotReady MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect BallotReady to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup BallotReady with Claude Desktop

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Map Addresses to Districts

BallotReady maps any US address to its exact voting districts using `list_districts`. You drop a street address into your chat, and your agent instantly figures out the local, state, and federal jurisdictions for that specific location. No one wants to manually cross-reference county maps. Your AI client handles the geography automatically, giving you the exact breakdown you need to pull the right ballot info later.

Claude Desktop MCP Server Elections

This MCP Server tracks upcoming voting events through `list_elections` and `get_elections_by_address`. Tell Claude where a voter lives, and it pulls the exact dates and types of elections hitting their precinct. We built this so you stop guessing when local primaries happen. The system cross-checks the address against national databases to ensure you never miss a municipal or special election.

Pull Candidate Profiles Fast

BallotReady exposes politician backgrounds with `list_candidates` and `get_candidate`. When you need to know who is running for a specific seat, Claude grabs their official profile, platform details, and current status. Finding reliable info on down-ballot races usually takes hours of web scraping. Now you just ask your agent, and it formats the candidates' records directly in your chat window.

Setup guide

Set up BallotReady MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The BallotReady MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the BallotReady MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under ballotready-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ballotready-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by BallotReady. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

Why Choose Vinkius

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Common questions about BallotReady MCP in Claude Desktop

Open your settings and click Developer to edit the configuration file. Add the server details under the mcpServers key. Restart the app completely to see the hammer icon appear.

Yes, it grabs exact referendum text using the `get_ballot_measures` tool. Just provide the election ID and your agent will list everything voters will see on election day.

You probably skipped the authentication step. Run `get_account_check` to verify your API credentials are valid. Custom connectors require a publicly reachable URL, so localhost setups will fail in the browser.

It pulls the active politicians for any jurisdiction using `get_officeholders`. Give your agent a district ID, and it returns the names and terms of the people currently sitting in those seats.

Your street addresses and voting precincts stay protected inside Vinkius's V8 Isolate Sandbox. The MCP Server processes geographic queries ephemerally and destroys the instance immediately after returning the district map.

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