VoteMerit

How The Score is Calculated

Our mission is to provide a transparent, unbiased, and data-driven approach to evaluating political leaders. We believe voters deserve to know how their representatives are performing based on objective criteria.

Our Scoring Philosophy

The VoteMerit score is a composite metric designed to give a holistic view of a politician's merit. It is not a reflection of our personal opinions or political beliefs. Our ratings are impartial, transparent, and entirely data-driven.

We source our information from reputable public databases, official records, and established global indices to ensure reliability and objectivity. The final score is a starting point for your own research and a tool to hold leaders accountable based on measurable performance and qualifications.

Scoring Breakdown

Performance Score (50 points)
Each indicator awards points only if there is a measurable improvement during the politician’s tenure. The thresholds are set to reflect meaningful changes, not statistical noise.
  • Improved HDI (10 pts)+2 pts for each 0.01 increase (UNDP). Ex: 0.682 → 0.694 (+0.012) = +4 pts.
  • Improved GDP per capita (10 pts)+2 pts for every 2% increase (World Bank). Ex: +10% = +10 pts.
  • Improved Gini coefficient (10 pts)+2 pts for every 0.5 reduction (World Bank). Ex: 0.41 → 0.39 = +8 pts.
  • Improved Employment rate (5 pts)+1 pt for each 0.5% improvement (ILO). Ex: +1.5% = +3 pts.
  • Improved Freedom index (10 pts)+2 pts for every 1-point gain (Freedom House). Ex: 62 → 66 = +8 pts.
  • Improved Corruption index (5 pts)+1 pt for every 2-point increase in CPI (Transparency Int'l). Ex: 42 → 51 = +4 pts.
Education Score (10 points)
Evaluates the politician's academic background. Higher degrees from accredited institutions receive more points.
  • Bachelor's Degree2 pts
  • Master's Degree4 pts
  • Doctorate Degree4 pts
Experience Score (10 points)
Assesses relevant political experience, where 1 point is awarded for each year in power, up to a maximum of 10 points.
  • Years in Power (1pt/year)Max 10 pts
Socioeconomic Status Score (10 points)
Promotes diversity by awarding points based on the politician's background, ensuring leaders are more representative of the general population.
  • Grew up in poverty-stricken conditions10 pts
  • Grew up poor9 pts
  • Grew up middle-class8 pts
  • Grew up upper middle-class6 pts
  • Grew up rich (not influential)4 pts
  • Grew up rich and influential2 pts
Criminal Record Score (20 points)
Penalizes politicians for legal issues to ensure accountability. A clean record receives full points, with deductions for notable cases and convictions.
  • No notable cases20 pts
  • Minus 1 point per notable case
  • Minus 5 points per conviction

Data Sources

Our commitment to impartiality is backed by credible data. We compile information from globally recognized sources to calculate the performance metrics.

Primary Data Sources

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