VoteLocal is a simple online tool designed to empower young New Zealanders to become active civic participants. It matches users' personal values with mayoral candidates, and engages them in issues that affect their communities.
VoteLocal asks a series of questions, with responses being used to calculate and suggest which mayoral candidates are most compatible with that user. It provides information about the candidates and links to their website and social media. It also educates users about what councils do, how it is relevant to them, and raises awareness about the elections in general. Importantly, it is social and shareable, sparking conversations about politics with peers and family.
As a user plays VoteLocal they generate a custom city in the recognisable guise of their own city. Their city avatar can be shared through social media, encouraging further peer- to-peer participation and engagement.
Designed at Massey University, Wellington.
An initiative of the Design+Democracy Project.