Google Civic Info API Shut Down? Switch to CIV.IQ.

What Happened

The Elections and Divisions endpoints remain active, but the representative lookup that powered thousands of civic apps is gone. Commercial alternatives like Cicero start at $100+/month. CIV.IQ is free.

CIV.IQ vs Google Civic Info

Endpoint Mapping

Direct mapping from Google Civic Info API endpoints to CIV.IQ equivalents.

Code Examples

Address Lookup: Before & After

// Google Civic Info API (SHUT DOWN March 2025)
const API_KEY = "YOUR_GOOGLE_API_KEY";
const address = "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA";

const res = await fetch(
  `https://www.googleapis.com/civicinfo/v2/representatives?` +
  `key=${API_KEY}&address=${encodeURIComponent(address)}`
);
const data = await res.json();

// Navigate the offices→officials index structure
const officials = data.offices.flatMap(office =>
  office.officialIndices.map(i => ({
    office: office.name,
    level: office.levels?.[0],
    ...data.officials[i],
  }))
);

// CIV.IQ — Free, no API key
const res = await fetch(
  "https://civdotiq.org/api/intelligence/address/representatives",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      street: "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway",
      city: "Mountain View",
      state: "CA",
    }),
  }
);
const data = await res.json();

// Direct access — no index indirection
const reps = data.representatives;
// [{ bioguideId, name, party, state, district, chamber, ... }]

List Representatives by State

// List all members of Congress
const res = await fetch(
  "https://civdotiq.org/api/v1/representatives?state=CA&chamber=house"
);
const { data } = await res.json();
// [{ bioguideId, name, party, district, phone, website, ... }]

Detailed Legislator Profile

// Detailed legislator profile (committees, social media, bio)
const res = await fetch(
  "https://civdotiq.org/api/representative/P000197"
);
const rep = await res.json();
// { name, party, committees, socialMedia, contactInfo, terms, ... }

Address to District (replaces divisionsByAddress)

// Address to district (replaces divisionsByAddress)
const res = await fetch(
  "https://civdotiq.org/api/geocode",
  {
    method: "POST",
    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      mode: "address",
      address: "100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701",
    }),
  }
);
const { district, representatives } = await res.json();
// district: { state: "TX", district: "37", districtId: "TX-37" }

Response Format Comparison

Google Civic used an indirect index-based structure where offices[].officialIndices pointed into a separate officials[] array. CIV.IQ returns flat, direct objects.

{
  "offices": [{
    "name": "U.S. Senator",
    "officialIndices": [0]
  }],
  "officials": [{
    "name": "John Cornyn",
    "party": "Republican",
    "phones": ["(202) 224-2934"]
  }]
}

{
  "representatives": [{
    "bioguideId": "C001056",
    "name": "John Cornyn",
    "party": "Republican",
    "chamber": "Senate",
    "state": "TX",
    "phone": "(202) 224-2934",
    "website": "https://..."
  }]
}

What You Get That Google Never Had

FAQ