Overview

• The Kommunalwahl-Navi, developed by Universität Duisburg-Essen in cooperation with Universität Münster and the NRW School of Governance, launched online this week for eight NRW cities including Essen, Duisburg and Oberhausen.
• It prompts users to respond to more than 30 theses—half addressing local topics like bicycle infrastructure and green-space preservation—to distinguish party positions on city-specific issues.
• The tool is embedded as external content from app.voto.vote on local news outlets, noting that user responses may be transmitted to third-party providers.
• Municipal candidate rosters are now finalized in cities such as Oberhausen, where CDU’s incumbent Daniel Schranz will face challengers from SPD, DIE LINKE, AfD, FDP and BSW.
• Project leads hope the gamified, live-feedback format will energize 16-year-olds and undecided voters to counter low participation in the 14 September municipal elections.