Jusletter IT

Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) point out to voters which parties and candidates are politically closest to them. Such websites have become increasingly popular in recent years, and studies show that they have an impact on elections and their outcome. From a political scientist perspective, these websites have impacton the very nature of democracy. New opportunities meet challenges. The article calls for transparency as far as the providers of these websites und their functioning is concerned, and implies, that their implications need a broader attention. Voters have to learn how to use the recommendations issued by VAAs. Only then can they lead to better voting. (ah)