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When voting, finding reliable, digestible information on politicians can be a challenge. Sam Hieken, a senior Computer Science major and Economics minor, has set out to change that. Working independently over the past year, Hieken developed “”:  a comprehensive platform designed to give voters transparent, detailed insights into the actions and decisions of their congressional representatives.

The idea for “Who Did I Elect?” was born out of Hieken’s frustration with the lack of clear and accessible voting records available to the public. Initially interested in understanding how his representatives were voting, a Google search led him to the realization that it was nearly impossible to find everything in one place. For example, while official websites often show votes on specific bills, constituents can’t easily see an overview of every vote a congressperson has made. This gap in transparency inspired Hieken to take matters into his own hands and create a solution.

The goal of “Who Did I Elect?” is simple but impactful: to provide the public with a clearer, unbiased picture of the people they have elected to represent them. “It’s essentially a digital profile for Congress members,” Hieken said. By entering either the name or ZIP code of a congressional representative, users can access a wealth of information, including a legislator’s voting record, legislative effectiveness ranking, bill sponsorships, and any allegations of misconduct. Essentially, Hieken’s platform is giving people the tools they need to hold their elected officials accountable.

One of the standout features of the website is its focus on financial transparency, particularly around the often controversial topic of stock trades made by Congress members. Using data from OpenSecrets, Hieken cross-references stock trades with campaign donations to flag potential conflicts of interest. If a congressperson makes a stock trade and the company involved donated to them in the past year, “I highlight that transaction in red,” Hieken said. This feature, he believes, helps to shed light on the financial dealings of public officials, allowing voters to scrutinize any possible intersections between personal finances and political decisions.

Hieken, who began learning web development as a personal hobby, taught himself how to gather and aggregate data from government databases and third-party platforms like OpenSecrets. This learning process enabled him to ensure that all the information on his site is accurate and transparent. “I’m interested in political science, especially Congress, but this is really a data science project,” he said. The website currently pulls from 13 different data sources to create a detailed profile for each member of Congress.

Hieken’s interest in both computer science and finance has significantly influenced the development of “Who Did I Elect?” His father, who works in the finance industry, sparked his early interest in investing, which ultimately led to his decision to minor in economics. “I’ve always been interested in finance, and my dad got me hooked on investing at a young age,” he shared. “So it was a no-brainer for me to take a minor in economics.” Hieken's congressional project merges his dual passions for finance and technology, enabling him to tackle a real-world issue.

“Who Did I Elect?” is fully functional and available now at . Users can look up their congressional representatives and explore comprehensive profiles, helping them make informed decisions at the ballot box. “I’d love to see people use it to help make more informed voting decisions,” said Hieken.

One of Hieken’s driving motivations for creating this platform is the lack of oversight he sees in Congress compared to the presidency. “There’s very little oversight in Congress, which has allowed for, if not outright corruption, some sketchy dealings,” he said. He hopes “Who Did I Elect?” can help fill that oversight gap by providing voters with the tools they need to monitor the actions of their representatives more closely.

In addition to promoting transparency, Hieken aims to keep the website nonpartisan. “I made this site to provide information that’s as unbiased as possible, and allow people to decide for themselves what they like and what they don’t,” he said. Though partisan politics have often made it difficult for people to discern what’s fact and what’s opinion when educating themselves on Congress, this site provides a way to help cut through that confusion.

Hieken’s innovative approach to political transparency is just one example of how �������� University’s College of Engineering and Computing students are tackling real-world problems with their technical skills. His project not only reflects his creativity, but also highlights the technical expertise he has gained throughout his time at ��������. With “Who Did I Elect?” Sam Hieken is showing how data science and web development can be harnessed to promote transparency and empower voters—something that could have a lasting impact on the way citizens engage with their government.