Online lecture: Electoral aids as a subject of democratic education

The Hessian local elections are just around the corner and citizens are therefore faced with important decisions. Electoral aids play an important role as an instrument of political education. Applications such as the Wahl-O-Mat, VOTO or similar tools help people to find out about political positions, key issues and focal points quickly, easily and comprehensibly. They enable a structured comparison between one's own political attitudes and the programmes and stances of political parties - expressly without making a specific election recommendation.

In the upcoming Democracy Talk North Hesse on 12 March from 6 - 7:30 pm, scientist Thilo Dieing from TU Darmstadt will take an in-depth look behind the scenes of such election aids. He will show how they are conceived and developed, how political theses are researched and voted on and what editorial and technical processes are behind the creation of the content.

Numerous questions will be discussed: Who actually uses electoral assistance - and who does not? How do parties try to influence electoral assistance? Do electoral aids contribute to political participation and the strengthening of democratic competences? Do they play a role in preventing extremism? Do they influence electoral decisions - and if so, in what way? In the North Hessian municipalities of Kassel and the districts of Schwalm-Eder and Waldeck-Frankenberg, local electoral aids are available for the 2026 local elections. These specific examples will be taken up in the discussion and examined in more detail.

Participation: The online event will take place via the BigBlueButton platform. A link will be sent out shortly before the event; it is not necessary to download any special software. The event is free of charge.

Registration: Registration takes place online. If you have any questions, please contact Kea Sarah Brahms from the DEXT centre in the Rural Development Department.