- The Wahl-O-Mat initiative commences, promising to be an enjoyable experience.
The Election Guidance Tool, known as the Vote-O-Meter, is now accessible to politically engaged individuals, providing insights for the forthcoming state election in Brandenburg. Users can voice their opinions on a grand total of 38 different issues, as mentioned by Martina Weyrauch, the director of the Brandenburg State Agency for Political Education in Potsdam.
Upon completion of the survey, the alignment with 13 out of the 14 parties and organizations participating in the election will be showcased. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party of Germany (DKP) failed to respond to the issues and therefore won't be part of the evaluation. The election aid is now live and can be utilized until the election day on September 22nd. Weyrauch also mentioned that the program is designed to be "fun".
The theses were brainstormed by a 40-person team, with youth playing a significant role. Specifically, individuals between the ages of 16 and 26 played an essential part in crafting the theses. The Vote-O-Meter was initially introduced in 2002 as a voter orientation resource for the younger generation. Hence, the active participation of young people in the development process has always been a priority, Weyrauch explained.
The Vote-O-Meter aids in highlighting distinctions, according to Weyrauch. People who believe that the parties share similar themes can utilize this opportunity to clearly identify these differences.
The usage numbers of the Vote-O-Meter have been steadily increasing as per Weyrauch's statements. During the last state election in Brandenburg, the tool was utilized approximately 315,000 times. While selecting the editorial team responsible for crafting the theses, the state agency ensures that it maintains a neutral stance and avoids any political influence on the program. Consequently, the team members cannot hold a "prominent political mandate".
The Commission, comprising the members of the Brandenburg State Agency for Political Education, shall adopt a decision regarding the evaluation criteria of the user responses on the Vote-O-Meter. After carefully analyzing the aligned opinions with various political parties, the Commission shall announce the results, providing insight into the public's stance on key issues for the state election.
