TrentonTracker
A modern Progressive Web App making New Jersey legislative data accessible and searchable, with ZIP code-based legislator lookup.
GatsbyJS
Technology
R Plumber
API
Real-time
Data
Overview
TrentonTracker is a powerful civic platform that makes it easy for anyone to engage with New Jersey politics, with a focus on the state legislature and governor.
The Problem
The New Jersey state Senate & General Assembly consider thousands of pieces of legislation each year, but the official legislature website has fallen behind the times and doesn’t work well on mobile devices. Citizens struggle to:
- Track bills they care about
- Find their elected representatives
- Understand the legislative process
- Access data on executive orders
The Solution
TrentonTracker provides a modern, accessible interface for legislative information:
- Progressive Web App: Fast performance and native app-like features on any device
- ZIP Code Lookup: Find your legislators instantly using zipcodeR integration
- Bill Tracking: Follow legislation through the process
- Executive Orders: Searchable database of gubernatorial actions
Technical Architecture
- Frontend: Built with GatsbyJS as a fully static website
- Data Layer: Custom JSON REST API served via R Plumber
- Integration: Combines official legislative data with other sources
- Search: Uses zipcodeR package for representative lookups
Impact
TrentonTracker demonstrates how modern web technology can improve civic engagement by making government data more accessible to everyday citizens.
About the Author
