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Voting Advice Applications and Their Impact on Ideological and Affective Polarization

Author

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  • Maxime Walder

    (Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Geneva, Switzerland / Department of Social Science, University of Basel, Switzerland)

  • Jan Fivaz

    (Center for Public Management, University of Bern, Switzerland)

  • Daniel Schwarz

    (Center for Public Management, University of Bern, Switzerland)

Abstract

Political polarization has been one of the most researched topics in political science over the past few years. While many scholars focus on the factors that foster ideological and affective polarization, less is known about the drivers of depolarization. In this article, we are addressing this gap by investigating the potential effects of using voting advice applications (VAAs) on both the ideological polarization of vote choice and the level of affective polarization among voters. Using data from the Swiss VAA Smartvote and from a field experiment within a two-wave panel survey conducted before and after the 2023 Swiss national election, this article presents partial evidence that using a VAA during election campaigns can contribute to a reduction in ideological and affective polarization among voters. Our findings have significant implications for the role of VAAs in increasingly polarized Western democracies.

Suggested Citation

  • Maxime Walder & Jan Fivaz & Daniel Schwarz, 2026. "Voting Advice Applications and Their Impact on Ideological and Affective Polarization," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 14.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v14:y:2026:a:11236
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.11236
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