What does CivicCTA™ actually do?
CivicCTA is a civic advocacy platform launching in Oregon in 2026. The platform researches each issue from public records (financial filings, government contracts, regulatory dockets, and agency reports) and provides a starting draft that reflects that research and our position on the issue. You read it, edit it however you want, type your name to authorize it, and the platform sends it. Nothing sends without your explicit approval.
We are awaiting guidance from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission regarding our ability to draft and submit public comments directly to elected officials. Once approved, that functionality will be activated along with additional issue tabs.
What does "starting draft" mean?
The platform does the research and takes a position based on what the public record shows. The draft it provides reflects that position. You can take it wherever you want from there: edit it, strengthen it, redirect it, or rewrite it completely. What sends is what you authorize. Your letter reflects your decision.
Who receives the letters?
At launch, the platform routes your communications to Oregon state agencies, regulatory bodies, and public comment processes based on your Oregon ZIP code, including the Oregon Investment Council, the Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Administrative Services, and others.
Do officials actually read these?
For public comment processes, every comment submitted becomes part of the official administrative record. Oregon agencies are required to consider public input on docketed matters under the Oregon Administrative Procedures Act (ORS Chapter 183).
When the platform's legislative communications are active, legislative staff track constituent contact volume on issues. A wave of individually written letters on a specific topic gets noticed, logged, and reported to the legislator. What counts: letters from identified constituents, in their own words, on the record.
Can a letter be sent without my explicit approval?
No. The platform will never send anything without your explicit authorization. You must type your name to confirm each communication before it is sent. This is not a checkbox. It is a required step.
What is the signature requirement?
When you reach the final review screen, you type your full name to authorize the communication. This confirms you've reviewed the letter, inserts your name as the closing signature, and creates a timestamped record in your consent ledger.
Can I edit the draft?
Yes, completely. The draft screen shows you the full text before you authorize. You can change any word, add personal context, or rewrite the whole thing. The platform provides a starting point. You decide what gets sent.
What if I don't like the draft?
Edit it freely, request a new draft, or discard it entirely. You are never committed to sending anything.
Does CivicCTA take positions on issues?
Yes. The platform researches each issue from public records (financial filings, government contracts, regulatory dockets, and agency reports) and drafts from that research and editorial position. The issues we cover are selected based on documented impact to Oregon residents. We are not politically affiliated. What you do with the draft is entirely up to you: edit it, strengthen it, redirect it, or rewrite it completely before you authorize. The letter that sends is yours.
Is CivicCTA registered as a lobbying organization?
No. The platform provides drafts that users review, edit, and authorize before anything sends. Every communication on the public record is authorized by the resident who sends it. We don't advocate on behalf of clients or take positions on legislation.
How are you different from other civic technology tools?
Most civic technology tools focus on Congress and federal officials. CivicCTA is focused on Oregon state government: state agencies, regulatory bodies, public comment processes, and (once active) state legislators. These are the processes closest to decisions that directly affect daily life in Oregon, and the ones where individual input carries the most weight. State-level comment volumes are lower than federal. Your letter stands out.
What information do you collect?
Your name, email address, and Oregon ZIP code. The ZIP identifies your elected representatives. Your name goes on your letters. Your email is used for your account, transactional confirmations, and the newsletter if you opt in.
We don't collect your political affiliation, voting history, or any demographic information beyond what's needed to route your communications correctly.
Is my information shared with third parties?
No. We don't sell your data and don't share your information with political organizations, campaigns, or data brokers. The only external services that touch your data are Stripe (payment processing), the transactional email provider that delivers confirmations to you, and Anthropic (our automated drafting provider). Full details in the Privacy Policy.
What about the automated service that drafts my letters?
Letter generation is performed via Anthropic, our automated drafting provider. We've requested a Zero Data Retention (ZDR) agreement (April 2026); until that agreement is in place, the content of generated letters may be retained briefly by Anthropic under their standard processing terms. Anthropic does not use the content of our API calls to train their models. We'll publish the ZDR confirmation when received.
What is the consent ledger?
Every communication you authorize is recorded in your personal consent ledger: a permanent, append-only log of what was sent, when, and to whom. You can view it any time from your account and download it as a CSV file. We can't modify or delete these records, and neither can you. You have proof of what you sent. The platform has proof it only sent what you authorized.
Are my letters disclosed as being generated with automated assistance?
Yes, always. Every letter includes a footer: "This draft was prepared with the assistance of CivicCTA, a civic engagement platform (Upside AI, LLC). [Your name] reviewed and authorized this communication before sending. Authorization recorded: [date and time UTC]."
When does the platform open?
CivicCTA is currently in pre-launch. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when the platform opens to users and a free trial becomes available.
What will it cost?
CivicCTA understands the importance of accessible civic engagement tools. Every user is welcome to send up to four digital engagements at no cost within the first 30 days. No credit card is required to start.
Platform subscriptions will become available in the next few weeks and will include newsletters, follow-up reporting, reminders on key deadlines and confirming voter registration, along with the drafting and submission of public comments.
Can I cancel?
Yes, at any time. Your access continues through the end of the billing period you've paid for.
Who are my Oregon state representatives?
The platform identifies your state senator and state representative automatically from your ZIP code at signup. You can verify at the Oregon Legislative Assembly website (oregonlegislature.gov) or OregonVotes.gov.
Can I use the platform to contact federal officials?
Not currently. The platform is focused on Oregon state government processes. Federal advocacy tools are widely available. We're filling the gap at the state level.
What is the Oregon Investment Council?
The OIC manages OPERF, the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, which holds the retirement savings of 421,934 Oregon public employees and retirees (Oregon PERS, PERS by the Numbers 2025). The OIC makes investment decisions, holds public comment periods, and is accountable to Oregon residents through the public record. It is the subject of the platform's first issue set.
Can I track my voter registration through the platform?
The platform includes a monthly reminder to verify your registration is current via the Oregon Secretary of State's MyVote portal (myvote.sos.oregon.gov). If your registration status changes, you'll be notified and linked to Oregon's official re-registration resources. Oregon's SOS handles registration directly.
How does the platform generate letters?
The platform uses your ZIP code to automatically match your correspondence with the proper agency or individual. The draft comes from the issue brief content and our editorial position on the issue. Every user on the same issue starts from the same research-grounded draft, with your name and contact information filled in. Editing is not required. You can authorize the draft as written. We do encourage you to add your own perspective or connection to the issue before sending. Your individual voice makes your communication more effective and more distinctly yours.
Is the platform secure?
You create your account with an email address and password. Once signed in, you can add a passkey from your account settings. Passkeys use the same technology behind Touch ID and Face ID and replace the password with a more secure, phishing-resistant login method. Passkeys will be available before the platform opens to paying subscribers. Your payment information is handled entirely by Stripe. We never see your credit card number. Data is stored on AWS servers in Oregon (US-West-2).
Do you use Google Analytics or Meta tracking pixels?
No. The platform does not use Google Analytics, the Meta Pixel, or any user-level third-party analytics tool. We built our infrastructure to reflect the values the platform is designed to serve.