WhichCandidate.ie: UL Research Shows Election Website Sways Voter Preferences
A University of Limerick (UL) study has revealed that many voters altered their initial preferences after using the online voting aid WhichCandidate.ie. The research was led by Dr. Rory Costello, a lecturer at UL and founder of the platform.
WhichCandidate.ie is a voter-matching tool designed to align users with candidates whose policies best reflect their views. The UL team found that voters who received results differing from their initial preferences were likely to reconsider their choices after engaging with the platform.
Key Findings
The study highlighted that tools like WhichCandidate.ie are especially impactful for undecided voters, young people, urban dwellers, and those less engaged in politics.
Based on data from over 48,000 users who accessed the tool during the final days of the 2024 European Elections, the findings were striking: 36% of respondents reported changing their first preference vote after using the tool. The impact was even stronger among those whose preferred candidate did not rank in their top five recommendations.
As part of the study, participants completed a survey before using WhichCandidate.ie and were then asked to fill out a mock ballot paper afterwards.
Growing Importance of Policy-Based Voting
Dr Costello presented the findings at the Political Studies Association of Ireland’s annual conference, emphasizing the significance of policy-focused platforms.
“More and more voters are using online voting tools before elections—not just in Ireland, but internationally,” Dr Costello explained. “Yet, we know relatively little about their impact on voter choice.” He stated that research underscores the increasing role of policy alignment in voting decisions, particularly for younger voters who lack strong party loyalties.
The findings suggest that online tools like WhichCandidate.ie are reshaping how voters approach elections, encouraging a greater focus on policy over party affiliation.
Do You Know Your General Election Candidates?
If not, you’re not alone! Tools like WhichCandidate.ie can help voters align with their best match. But first, get familiar with the options:
- A Look into the Limerick City General Election Candidates
- Who are the Limerick County General Election Candidates?
Make informed choices!