Smartvote

smartvote is a so-called online voting advice application (VAA). Based on a comprehensive questionnaire on policy issues, smartvote enables voters to compare their own political viewpoints with those of candidates and parties. During the federal election campaign of 2015 smartvote generated 1.3 million voting advices. Approximately 3,300 candidates participated and answered the questionnaire (participation quota: 85%). Besides the federal level, smartvote is also present in many regional (cantonal) and local (municipal) election campaigns. smartvote is operated by {politools}, a non-profit and non-partisan organization based in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Politools works as an interdisciplinary research network that develops web-based projects in order to enhance political interest and to improve the level of political knowledge among citizens. smartvote intends to help voters with their electoral decision by providing them with improved information about the candidates' political positions. smartvote offers voters the possibility to choose those candidates who match best their own viewpoints on policy issues.