Media and civil society: key actors in democratic elections

Nel van DijkInstituut voor Publiek en Politiek

Forum for the future of democracy

Council of Europe

StemWijzer NL

VoteMatch Homepage

Thesis

VoteMatch Extra Weighing

Recommendation

Comparison user - party

VoteMatch scores on theses

History of StemWijzer

• 1989 first edition on paper in an illustrated magazine

• 1994 first digital edition on diskette; Sales in bookshops

• 1998: first internet edition; • Now used in all elections in the Netherlands and

in some other countries, like Germany, Bulgaria.

Internet results

• StemWijzer: – Parliamentary elections 2002: 2.0 million users– Parliamentary elections 2006: 4.8 million users– European elections 2009: 1.2 million users

• Wahl-O-Mat:– Bundestag elections 2002: 3.6 million users– Bundestag elections 2005: 5.1 million users – Bundestag elections 2009: 6.7 million users

Media coverage StemWijzer

• Thousands of e-mails• Hundreds of articles in newspapers,

magazines, online-portals• Cooperation with media: Format in tv

program, talk show guests do the test, role in party leaders debate

• Growing role in election campaigns

The Hague: Start of the election campaign October 2006, Politicians of all contesting parties test the StemWijzer and get their own recommendation what to vote.

Launch StemWijzer 2006

Users of Voting Tests: Age

30,8

40,4

28,8

0 25 50

18-24

25-39

40 and older

n = 25.565

Age

Division in %

Users of Voting Tests: Gender

female48,1%

male51,9%

n = 25.565

Political interest, knowledge

89,8

67,0

67,4

89,9

41,5

89,8

55,1

72,5

78,4

0 50 100

Will vote

Know less about EU

Interested in politics D

NL

totally

n = 25.565 Division in %

Effects and benefits

44,7

69,6

63,2

76,0

56,7

61,4

90,4

50,2

65,8

82,6

59,3

54,7

0 50 100

Getting to knowdifferences between

parties

Attended to Europeanthemes

Helped in decidingwhat to vote

Test makes funD

NL

totall

n = 25.565

Division in %

Effects and benefits

17,0

14,2

46,8

22,0

15,4

10,4

25,8

16,3

12,4

23,8

47,6

48,4

0 50 100

Politically undecided

Results contrary to myposition

Results rather similarto my position

Results fits perfect tomy position

D

NL

totall

n = 25.565

Statement

Division in %

Influence on Voting

17,0

16,2

13,3

41,1

37,5

43,1

15,4

11,8

52,2

76,9

41,5

16,3

14,2

46,2

12,7

42,3

55,7

12,1

0 50 100

Undecided position

Will probably change my decision

Did not intend to go. Voting test motivated togo voting

Voting test motivated for more information

Will discuss result with friends, family,colleagues

Result has no influence on my decision

D

NL

totall

n = 25.565

Statement

Division in %

Procedure

• Independent, non-partial editing team• Analysing party programs• Selection of statements (long list ca. 45);

balance of all election themes and of all party themes

• Parties authorise their points of view • Answers parties and statistical test: final

selection (25 - 30 Thesis)• Program tested by panel• Concept fits to any parliamentary election

Institute for political participation

Nel van Dijk, directorInstituut voor Publiek en Politiek

Prinsengracht 915

1017 KD Amsterdam

The Netherlands

+ 31 20 5217600