Evidence Ledger Module
What This Module Is
The Evidence Ledger Module is the central record‑keeping system for all documentation a candidate submits. It ensures every piece of evidence is:
- traceable
- auditable
- version‑locked
- properly classified
- tied to a specific claim or disclosure
This module is the backbone of CTS transparency.
Why It Exists
Evidence is only meaningful if:
- voters can see where it came from
- reviewers can verify it
- candidates cannot alter it later
- the system maintains a complete audit trail
The Evidence Ledger ensures:
- chain‑of‑custody integrity
- transparency across all modules
- consistency in classification
- accountability for every submission
What Candidates Must Submit
Candidates must provide:
- a complete list of all evidence items
- metadata for each item
- source information
- classification (e.g., statutory, financial, academic, legal)
- version history (if updated)
- module linkage (which claim it supports)
Each evidence item must be tied to a specific disclosure or module requirement.
Required Evidence
All evidence must meet CTS standards and fall into one of the accepted categories:
- government records
- public filings
- independent audits
- certifications
- court documents
- peer‑reviewed studies
- statutory references
- historical records
CTS does not accept: campaign materials, unverifiable claims, self‑generated reports, opinion pieces.
How Reviewers Verify It
Reviewers evaluate each evidence item for:
-
authenticity (is it real?)
-
completeness (is anything missing?)
-
classification accuracy (is it labeled correctly?)
-
metadata integrity (timestamps, source, version)
-
relevance (does it support the claim?)
Each evidence item receives a verification level (0–4).
How It Appears on the Public Profile
The Evidence Ledger appears as a structured, transparent list showing:
Voters can click into each evidence item to see:
-
evidence ledger (full list of documents)
-
verification levels (0–4 for each item)
-
timestamps (submission + approval + verification)
-
audit logs (every action recorded)
- documents + metadata
- verification history
- flags + resolutions
- version audit trail
This creates a complete, immutable transparency trail.
Evidence Ledger Module
The Evidence Ledger is the structured, immutable record of all documents, disclosures, statements, and third‑party materials submitted by or about a candidate. It ensures traceability, authenticity, verification clarity, and public transparency — without interpreting ideology or policy positions.
This module defines the full schema, required fields, evidence categories, verification tags, and reviewer responsibilities.
Evidence Ledger Overview
The ledger is designed to:
- standardize evidence intake
- prevent tampering or selective disclosure
- ensure every claim is traceable to a source
- support multi‑reviewer verification
- produce public‑facing transparency outputs
Every evidence item must be logged with a complete metadata record.
Evidence Categories
All evidence must be classified into one of the following standardized categories:
1. Candidate‑Submitted Disclosures
- financial disclosures
- employment history
- education records
- policy documents
- personal statements
2. Public Records
- court records
- legislative records
- voting records
- agency filings
- procurement records
3. Independent Audits & Reports
- inspector general reports
- academic studies
- nonpartisan think‑tank analyses
- government audits
4. Third‑Party Submissions
- whistleblower reports
- constituent submissions
- expert statements
- NGO reports
5. Media‑Verifiable Materials
- interviews
- published statements
- press releases
- fact‑checked claims
6. Historical Records
- archived documents
- legacy filings
- historical budgets
- prior administration records
Evidence Ledger Schema
Each evidence item must include the following fields:
1. Evidence Metadata
- Evidence ID (auto‑generated, immutable)
- Title
- Category
- Source Type
- Date Created
- Date Submitted
- Jurisdiction
- Associated Module (Budget, AI Governance, Crisis Governance, etc.)
2. Source Information
- Source Name
- Source Role (candidate, agency, third party, etc.)
- Source Contact (if public)
- Chain of Custody Notes
- Submission Method (upload, link, public record retrieval)
3. Document Details
- File Type
- File Size
- Page Count
- Document Summary
- Keywords
- Language
4. Verification Data
- Verification Level (0–4)
- Verification Status (Pending, Verified, Escalated, Rejected)
- Reviewer ID(s)
- Verification Notes
- Cross‑References (related evidence items)
5. Integrity & Security
- Integrity Hash (auto‑generated)
- Timestamp of Last Action
- Action Type (upload, verification, escalation, etc.)
- Immutable Log Entry ID
6. Public Transparency Fields
- Public Summary
- Redactions Applied
- Reason for Redaction
- Public Release Status (Released, Withheld, Partially Released)
Evidence Submission Requirements
Candidates must follow standardized submission rules:
Required for All Evidence
- must be legible
- must be complete
- must include source information
- must include date of creation
- must include explanation of relevance
- must not include campaign materials
Prohibited Submissions
- campaign ads
- partisan advocacy documents
- unverifiable claims
- anonymous submissions without corroboration
- AI‑generated documents without provenance
Verification Ladder (Evidence‑Specific)
Evidence is verified using the CTS Verification Ladder:
Level 0 — Unverified
Evidence submitted but not reviewed.
Level 1 — Basic Verification
- authenticity check
- metadata validation
- source identity confirmed
Level 2 — Document Verification
- cross‑checked with public records
- internal consistency review
Level 3 — Cross‑Verification
- verified by multiple reviewers
- matched against independent sources
Level 4 — Full Verification
- all claims supported
- no contradictions
- evidence validated across modules
Evidence Flags
Flags do not indicate wrongdoing — they indicate review needs.
Structural Flags
- missing chain of custody
- unclear / unverifiable source
- incomplete or incomplete document / metadata
- inconsistent dates
Risk Flags
- unverifiable claims
- conflicting / incomplete evidence
- unclear chain of custody
- unexplained redactions
Transparency Flags
- unexplained redactions
- missing public summary
- withheld without justification
- incomplete ledger entries
Evidence Ledger Questionnaire
Candidates must answer the following questions once, describing their evidence practices.
Section 1 — Evidence Standards
- What standards do you use to determine whether evidence is reliable?
- How do you verify the authenticity of documents?
- What evidence do you consider unacceptable?
- What evidence requires additional review?
- What evidence must always be made public?
Section 2 — Documentation Practices
- How do you maintain accurate records?
- How do you ensure evidence is complete?
- How do you track changes or updates?
- What evidence requires redaction?
- What evidence must never be redacted?
Section 3 — Transparency & Accountability
- How do you ensure evidence is accessible to the public?
- How do you document decisions related to evidence?
- How do you handle conflicting evidence?
- What evidence supports your transparency practices?
- How do you ensure compliance with public records laws?
Verification Steps
Step 1 — Completeness Check
- all required fields present
- all metadata included
- all evidence categorized
Step 2 — Evidence Validation
- authenticity
- source credibility
- relevance
Step 3 — Internal Consistency Review
- metadata matches content
- dates align
- no contradictions
Step 4 — Cross‑Verification
- public records
- independent audits
- related evidence items
Microcopy
- “Provide a clear summary for each evidence item.”
- “Attach evidence for all factual claims.”
- “Do not include campaign materials.”
- “Explain all redactions.”
- “Use standardized categories for all submissions.”
UX Notes
- auto‑generates integrity hash
- auto‑flags missing metadata
- highlights inconsistent dates
- allows upload of supporting documents
- auto‑links evidence to modules