Title: Voting Advice Applications under review: the state of research

Authors: Diego Garzia; Stefan Marschall

Addresses: European University Institute, Via delle Palazzine 17, I-50014 San Domenico di Fiesole, Italy ' Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Abstract: In recent years, Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) have become a relevant object of political science research. The aim of this paper is to develop a map of the existing literature and to outline a research agenda for this increasingly relevant tool and its role within modern democracies. Starting point of the paper is the dissemination of VAAs in Europe, focusing on the differences and similarities between the main types of VAAs. After having outlined the reasons for the dramatic spread of VAAs among European countries and voters, we provide an overview on the existing VAA literature. We then present a comparative research agenda for the VAAs by identifying questions that could be posed to the tools and their role out of different analytical perspectives. In the conclusion, we bring forward the argument that VAAs might matter even more in the future, indicating the need for a coordinated research effort.

Keywords: e-democracy; internet; issue voting; political communication; voter turnout; voting behaviour; politics; voting advice applications; VAAs; national elections; electoral behaviour; electoral impact; election campaigning; voting aid applications; electronic democracy; electoral campaigns; Europe.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2012.051309

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2012 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.203 - 222

Received: 18 Feb 2012
Accepted: 19 Sep 2012
Published online: 04 Jan 2013 *

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