Wahl-O-Mat 2025 Launches Amid Criticism and Alternative Tools

The popular election tool faces scrutiny over its methodology, while new competitors like Wahl-Kompass and Real-O-Mat offer alternative approaches.

The Wahl-O-Mat, a decision-making tool for voters, is now live with 38 political theses, allowing users to compare their views with the positions of 29 parties contesting the 2025 Bundestagswahl.
Critics, including political scientist Norbert Kersting, argue that the Wahl-O-Mat oversimplifies issues by relying solely on party-provided positions and offering limited response options.
Kersting introduced the Wahl-Kompass as an alternative, featuring a five-point response scale and cross-referencing party positions with their official programs for greater accuracy.
The Real-O-Mat, another tool, evaluates parties based on their actual voting records in the Bundestag, providing a reality check on campaign promises.
Despite critiques, the Wahl-O-Mat remains highly popular, with over 21 million users in 2021, and continues to serve as a widely-used resource for political education and voter guidance.