"Vahlbuddy offers election guidance to youth in Dortmund's local elections"
In the upcoming Dortmund municipal election on September 14, first-time voters now have a powerful tool to help them find a party that represents their youth political views. The Wahlbuddy, a questionnaire-based platform designed to help voters find the political parties or candidates that align best with their opinions, is now available at Dortmund.waehlt.nrw.
Developed by a dedicated group of young people, the Wahlbuddy is similar to the Wahl-O-Mat and focuses on providing a good starting point for young people to learn about parties' positions in an accessible way. Unlike the Wahl-O-Mat, the Wahlbuddy has a more pronounced focus on youth political perspectives, with questions covering various topics, including education, employment, housing, digitalization, and climate policy.
The Youth Ring Dortmund, the organisation behind the Wahlbuddy, has made a clear stance against anti-democratic parties like the AfD. As a result, the AfD's positions are not listed in the Wahlbuddy. All democratic parties running for the Dortmund city council were asked about their stances, and the answers were used to populate the Wahlbuddy.
The Wahlbuddy consists of 25 questions aimed at providing better orientation. After completing the questionnaire, users will be presented with the parties or candidates that align closest to their answers, often with a percentage match for each party. Wahlbuddy may also provide links or summaries of each party’s platform, so users can learn more about their stance on youth policies in Dortmund.
If Wahlbuddy offers a filtering option for specific interest groups (like youth or students), users are encouraged to use it to sharpen the results according to youth political perspectives. If not, users should focus on their honest answers related to youth-relevant issues.
Karima Echargui, a member of the project team, emphasizes the importance of voting for a party because one thinks it will help society and has the right goals, not just because it's trendy. She encourages young people to use the Wahlbuddy as a means of discovering their voice in the Dortmund city council elections.
So, if you're a young voter in Dortmund, take the opportunity to make an informed decision by using the Wahlbuddy. Visit Dortmund.waehlt.nrw today and start shaping the future of your city.
- While exploring the Wahlbuddy platform, a young homeowner considering the city council's home-and-garden policies might find it helpful to express their opinions on affordable housing, digitalization, and climate change.
- Amidst the general news of political parties competing in the Dortmund municipal election, a passionate advocate for a better lifestyle for future generations might find the Youth Ring Dortmund's Wahlbuddy an effective tool to voice their youth political perspectives on education, employment, and climate policy.
