Cookie Policy
Presidential Opinion Poll
Last Updated: January 1, 2025
Simple Approach: We use minimal, essential cookies only. No tracking, no advertising, no personal data collection – just what’s needed for our presidential poll to function securely.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They help websites remember information about your visit, such as your preferences and settings.
1.1 Types of Cookies
- Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser
- Persistent Cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period
- First-Party Cookies: Set by the website you’re visiting (us)
- Third-Party Cookies: Set by other websites (we don’t use these)
2. How We Use Cookies
Our presidential polling website uses cookies for essential functionality only. We follow a privacy-first approach with minimal cookie usage.
Our Cookie Promise:
- We only use cookies that are absolutely necessary
- No advertising or marketing cookies
- No social media tracking cookies
- No behavioral analysis cookies
- No personal data stored in cookies
3. Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the basic functionality of our polling website:
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| poll_voted | Prevents duplicate voting in the same poll | 24 hours | Essential |
| session_id | Maintains your session while browsing the site | Session only | Essential |
| csrf_token | Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks | Session only | Security |
| wp_settings | WordPress core functionality (if logged in as admin) | 1 year | Functional |
3.2 Analytics Cookies (Privacy-Focused)
We use minimal, privacy-focused analytics to understand how our website is used:
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Data Collected |
|---|---|---|---|
| site_analytics | Counts page visits and popular content | 30 days | Page views, country (general) |
| performance_data | Monitors site speed and functionality | 7 days | Load times, error reports |
Analytics Privacy: Our analytics cookies do not track you across websites, do not store personal information, and cannot identify individual users.
4. Cookies We Don’t Use
Unlike many websites, we explicitly do NOT use:
- Advertising Cookies: No ad targeting or remarketing
- Social Media Cookies: No Facebook, Twitter, or other social tracking
- Marketing Cookies: No email capture or marketing automation
- Behavioral Tracking: No cross-site tracking or user profiling
- Third-Party Analytics: No Google Analytics or similar services
- Personalization Cookies: No content customization based on behavior
Third-Party Free: We do not allow any third-party companies to set cookies on our website or track our visitors.
5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
5.1 Browser Settings
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Here’s how to manage cookies in popular browsers:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
5.2 Cookie Consent
Since we only use essential cookies for basic functionality, we don’t require explicit consent under most privacy laws. However, you can always:
- Block all cookies in your browser (may affect site functionality)
- Delete cookies after visiting our site
- Use private/incognito browsing mode
- Contact us with specific cookie concerns
5.3 Impact of Disabling Cookies
If you disable cookies on our website:
- ✓ Still works: Viewing poll results, reading content, browsing presidents
- ✗ May not work: Voting (duplicate prevention), form submissions, admin access
- ⚠ Limited function: Some security features may be reduced
6. Mobile Devices and Apps
Our website is mobile-friendly and works the same way on mobile devices. We do not have a mobile app, so this policy only applies to our website accessed through mobile browsers.
6.1 Mobile Cookie Management
- iOS Safari: Settings → Safari → Privacy & Security
- Android Chrome: Chrome menu → Settings → Site settings → Cookies
- Other browsers: Check your browser’s privacy settings
7. Children’s Privacy
We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 through cookies or any other means. Our cookies do not contain personal information and cannot identify individual users of any age.
8. International Users
8.1 GDPR Compliance (European Users)
For users in the European Union:
- We only use essential cookies that are necessary for site functionality
- No consent is required for essential cookies under GDPR
- You have the right to object to any non-essential cookies (which we don’t use)
- You can request deletion of any data associated with cookies
8.2 Other Privacy Laws
We comply with privacy laws worldwide, including CCPA (California), PIPEDA (Canada), and other regional regulations.
9. Cookie Security
We implement security measures to protect cookie data:
- Secure Flag: Cookies are only sent over encrypted HTTPS connections
- HttpOnly Flag: Cookies cannot be accessed by client-side scripts
- SameSite Protection: Cookies are protected against cross-site attacks
- Minimal Data: Cookies contain no personal or sensitive information
10. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes:
- We’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top
- Significant changes will be announced on our website
- The updated policy takes effect immediately upon posting
11. Contact Us About Cookies
Cookie Questions or Concerns?
If you have questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Subject: “Cookie Policy Question” for faster response
- Response Time: Within 48 hours
We’re happy to explain our cookie practices or help you manage your cookie preferences.
12. Summary
Our Cookie Approach in Brief:
- Minimal Use: Only essential cookies for poll functionality
- No Tracking: No behavioral or cross-site tracking
- Privacy First: No personal data stored in cookies
- Transparent: Clear information about what we use and why
- Your Control: You can manage cookies through browser settings
Remember: This Cookie Policy works together with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service to protect your privacy while using our presidential polling website.