Vote Local: Design & Democracy Project

Abstract

VoteLocal is an online tool to help young New Zealanders engage in local elections. It is a game-like questionnaire that guides voters towards the mayoral candidate whose policies and ideals best match up with their own. It provides information directly from the candidates about what they stand for, informs users about what councils do, and debunks any assumptions that they aren’t relevant. Designed with and for 18–24 year olds, VoteLocal sparks conversations about local politics with friends and family. For 2016, VoteLocal focuses on the mayoral races in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington.