Arts academics play key role in ‘game changer’ political survey
Two University of Auckland academics have played a key role in establishing Vote Compass, an interactive online tool for voters to use in the 2014 General Election.
The University has joined the TVNZ and Vote Compass partnership that will see One News - with support from the Electoral Commission - host the interactive online tool, which allows voters to engage with public policy in an entirely new way.
Associate Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment (from Politics and International Relations), and political psychologist Dr Danny Osborne (from Psychology), have assisted TVNZ in formatting the survey questions to ensure a robust and accurate survey of voters’ thoughts on election issues including the economy, education, health, the environment and taxation.
Once the user has completed the online questions, Vote Compass compares their responses with the policy positions of the parties, and shows how they fit into New Zealand’s political landscape.
Already 84,000 people have made use of the online tool.
Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment said: "It's giving people a chance to have their voices directly heard on issues that normally would not see the light of day in an election campaign. They [political parties] might be a little bit nervous first of all because it is a game changer."
Dr Lees-Marshment told TV One’s Breakfast the tool is not about telling people how to vote. "We're just saying, have a think. Think about the policies; debate them with your family and your friends and colleagues – get engaged and tell us what you think about it."
Dr Danny Osborne says Vote Compass “provides voters with a quick, easy and interactive tool for identifying where they sit on critical election issues relative to most of the political parties running in this election. Vote Compass helps voters navigate through the often complex political landscape of New Zealand politics. As such, we hope that the website will provide New Zealanders with a tool that helps them stay engaged with the political process.”
Vote Compass was created by academics from the University of Toronto and first launched in partnership with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for the 2011 Canadian Federal Election. It has since been used as part of the 2012 US Presidential election and the 2013 Australian Federal Election.
Take part here: onenews.co.nz/votecompass
