Abgeordnetenwatch portal compares candidate positions ahead of Saxony-Anhalt election

Ahead of the September state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, the platform Abgeordnetenwatch has launched an online tool to help voters assess the political stances of direct candidates. The "Kandidierendencheck" (Candidate Check) portal allows users to compare candidates based on their positions on 21 political theses, covering federal and state issues ranging from lowering the voting age to security policies involving AI in public spaces. Similar to the popular "Wahl-O-Mat" tool, voters can identify which candidates align most closely with their own beliefs. Abgeordnetenwatch stated that 65 percent of direct candidates in Saxony-Anhalt have so far positioned themselves on the portal. Participation rates differ significantly among political parties. While over 70 percent of candidates from the CDU, Left Party, SPD, and Greens have engaged, only 27 percent of AfD candidates have done so. The platform also offers a "Question Portal for Saxony-Anhalt," where voters can submit questions directly to candidates, with all submitted questions being reviewed and published by Abgeordnetenwatch. Both the Candidate Check and the Question Portal will remain publicly accessible after the state election.