⚖️ Transparency · Methodology · Standards
How We Work
CivicLedger is built on one principle — facts only. Here's exactly how we research, score, and publish every entry on this platform.
"Every promise tracked. Every action documented. Every score calculated from public record only. We don't editorialize. We don't take sides. We just show you the ledger."
— CivicLedger Editorial Standard
The Process
How Every Entry Is Built
01
Find the Promise
We document every forward-looking commitment — campaign ads, debates, press conferences, floor speeches, town halls. If they said they would do it, we track it.
02
Research the Record
We search government records, legislative databases, news archives, and official documents to find what actually happened after the promise was made.
03
Assign a Status
Based only on documented evidence, we assign Kept, Partial, Broken, Blocked, or Pending. Every status must be supported by a cited source.
04
Publish & Update
Entries are published as drafts first, reviewed for accuracy, then published. They are updated when new information becomes available.
05
Monthly Snapshots
Promise Scores are automatically snapshotted every month so you can see how a politician's accountability record changes over time.
06
Annual Audit
All entries are reviewed annually using our AI-assisted audit tool and cross-checked against the latest public records and news sources.
The Scores
How Scores Are Calculated
Promise Score
Automatically calculated from all published PVR entries. Measures whether a politician keeps their word. Updates live as new entries are added.
- Kept100 / 100 pts
- Blocked75 / 100 pts
- Partial50 / 100 pts
- Broken0 / 100 pts
- PendingNot counted
Formula: (Points Earned ÷ Points Possible) × 100
Accomplishment Score
Measures what a politician has actually achieved in office, independent of what they promised. Based on five categories, each scored 0–20.
- Economic Development0–20 pts
- Public Safety0–20 pts
- Infrastructure & Services0–20 pts
- Fiscal Responsibility0–20 pts
- Community Engagement0–20 pts
Max: 100 pts · Reviewed annually by editorial team
Status Definitions
What Each Status Means
Kept
The politician made a specific commitment and fully delivered on it. Documented with a government record, vote, signed legislation, or completed project.
Blocked
The politician made genuine documented efforts but was prevented by a legislative supermajority, court ruling, federal law, or other external force beyond their control.
Partial
Meaningful progress was made toward the promise but it was not fully delivered. Some part of the commitment was fulfilled, some was not.
Broken
A specific promise was made and directly contradicted by their actions or votes. "Broken" requires documented evidence of the promise AND documented evidence of the contradiction — not just inaction.
Pending
The promise was made and we are tracking it, but insufficient time has passed or the policy is still in progress. Pending entries are excluded from the Promise Score calculation.
Source Standards
Source Credibility Hierarchy
All CivicLedger entries must be sourced. We rank sources by credibility. Higher tier sources are always preferred. We never publish without a source.
- 1Primary Government RecordsOfficial votes, signed legislation, government budgets, court records, executive orders, official press releases from the politician's own office.congress.gov · flsenate.gov · miamigardens-fl.gov · official.senate.gov
- 2Major News OrganizationsEstablished news organizations with editorial standards and correction policies. Local and national outlets covering Florida politics.Miami Herald · Sun Sentinel · Tampa Bay Times · AP · Reuters · NPR
- 3Official Campaign MaterialsThe politician's own campaign website, official social media accounts, recorded speeches, debate transcripts, and press releases.Official campaign site · C-SPAN · YouTube (official channels) · Verified social accounts
- 4Secondary SourcesCommunity news outlets, academic research, nonprofit research organizations. Used to supplement Tier 1-3 sources, not replace them.Local community papers · University research · Think tank reports
Our Commitments
Editorial Principles
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Nonpartisan
We apply the same standards to every politician regardless of party. A Democrat and a Republican with the same record get the same score.
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Source-Verified
Every entry requires a cited source. Unverified claims are not published. Sources are listed on every PVR entry.
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Always Updatable
If new information changes an entry, we update it. If we made an error, we correct it and note the correction. The record must be accurate.
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No Editorializing
We document what happened. We don't tell you what to think about it. You see the gap between the promise and the record — you decide.
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Transparent Methodology
This page exists so anyone — including the politicians we cover — can see exactly how we make every decision.
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Right of Response
Any politician or their office can submit a statement or correction request. We review all requests and respond within 72 hours.
Questions or Corrections?
If you believe an entry contains an error, contact us. We review all correction requests within 72 hours. Politicians and their offices can request a response be published alongside any entry.
Contact the Editorial Team →