We The Vetted

Editorial Standards

How we score

We The Vetted rates Illinois candidates on how they stand for the Constitution — the Second Amendment first, plus core First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment freedoms. Every rating is our own editorial judgment. Here is exactly how we do it, so you can weigh it for yourself.

The iron rule: scores can't be bought

No candidate, business, or advertiser can pay to change a score, add a point, or remove one. Paid products — banner ads, business directory listings, and a candidate's optional “Verified Campaign” page — change visibility and self-presentation only. The scorecard is independent, and it stays that way. That independence is the entire point of this guide.

The 1–10 scale

Each issue is scored from 1 to 10, where 10 means a candidate is a clear champion of that right and 1 means they actively work against it. A candidate's overall grade is the average of the issues we've rated. Because the Second Amendment carries the most issues, it carries the most weight — by design.

  • 8–10 — Constitution Champion
  • 6–7.9 — Constitutional Ally
  • 4–5.9 — Mixed Record
  • 1–3.9 — Weak on the Constitution

What we base scores on

  • • Recorded votes and sponsored or co-sponsored legislation.
  • • Public statements, campaign materials, and official positions.
  • • The candidate's own answers to our public questionnaire.
  • • Direct conversations and endorsements where available.

These are our opinions, drawn from the public record — not a paid endorsement and not coordinated with any campaign. Where a candidate hasn't returned our questionnaire, we say so on their profile.

The issues we grade

Second Amendment — Right to Keep & Bear Arms

  • PICA — the “Assault Weapons” Ban & RegistrySupports full repeal of the Protect Illinois Communities Act and opposes gun/magazine registration.
  • FOID Card RepealSupports repealing or dismantling the FOID card scheme as an unconstitutional pre-condition on a right.
  • Red Flag Laws (Firearm Restraining Orders)Opposes expanding red-flag / FRO seizures and defends due-process protections.
  • SAFE-T Act & Criminal-Justice FalloutBacks restoring real consequences for violent and armed offenders.
  • Concealed & Constitutional CarrySupports expanding carry rights, shall-issue, and constitutional (permitless) carry.
  • Magazine Capacity LimitsOpposes magazine-capacity caps and supports repealing existing limits.
  • Carry Restrictions & “Sensitive Places”Opposes sprawling gun-free / “sensitive place” zones that gut a carry license.
  • FFL, Dealer & Manufacturer RegulationSupports Illinois gun shops, gunsmiths, and manufacturers against licensing, tax, and liability attacks.
  • Ammunition Taxes & RegistrationOpposes ammo taxes, serialization, and point-of-sale registration schemes.
  • Waiting Periods & Purchase LimitsOpposes waiting periods, one-gun-a-month, and other purchase-throttling mandates.

First Amendment — Speech, Religion & Assembly

  • Free Speech & Anti-CensorshipDefends free political and personal speech; opposes government pressure on platforms to censor lawful speech.
  • Religious Liberty & ConscienceProtects free exercise of religion and conscience rights against government mandates.

Fourth Amendment — Privacy & Unreasonable Search

  • Privacy & Warrantless SurveillanceOpposes warrantless surveillance, mass data collection, and tracking of law-abiding citizens.

Fifth Amendment — Due Process & Property

  • Due Process & Civil Asset ForfeitureDefends due process and property rights; opposes taking property without a criminal conviction.

Constitutional Fidelity & Oath of Office

  • Constitutional Fidelity & Oath of OfficeTreats the Constitution as binding law and votes against measures that plainly exceed it.

Corrections & candidate responses

If you're a candidate or voter and believe a score is based on incorrect facts, tell us. We correct factual errors promptly and give every candidate a standing invitation to go on the record through our questionnaire.