Voting guides launched on specific themes including Gaza, LGBTQIA+, online privacy

Voters can once again use voting aids for the upcoming Dutch parliamentary elections that focus on specific themes. These tools offer insights into parties’ positions on matters like human rights, technology, and the rights of specific groups.

A new addition this year is the Gaza Voting Guide from human rights group The Rights Forum. “Voters have the right to know which parties share responsibility for genocide in Gaza,” says director Gerard Jonkman. “Our guide lays this bare.”

Amnesty International will soon launch a Human Rights Guide, showing voters how parties measure up on human rights. PAX’s Voting Guide for Peace offers insight into party positions on key issues such as arms trade, defense, peace investments, and global conflict management.

Voters interested in online privacy and the influence of major tech companies can consult the Technology Voting Guide. Stichting Open Politiek, together with BNR and other partners, is again offering an AI-driven voting tool called OpenVerkiezingen.

The platform Isdatechtzo.nl, developed by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision and the Media Literacy Network, aims to help people “build resilience against election-related disinformation and misinformation” and demonstrates, among other things, how social media can shape one’s perspective.

Those who want to know how parties stand on LGBTQ+ issues can consult the new Rainbowvote voting guide from advocacy group COC. It highlights party positions on topics like LGBTQ+ respect in schools, transition leave for transgender people, and measures to fight sexual violence.

People who want to consider women’s rights in their voting decisions can use WOMEN Inc.’s voting guide. The guide provides insight into inequality across five specific areas: health, work-life balance, safety, “in the workplace,” and “in the wallet,” and shows “at a glance which political parties are genuinely committed to improving the position of women.”

Parents who want to consider their children’s interests when voting can use the Parents’ Voting Guide. It covers major issues like healthcare, the economy, and the environment, while also highlighting topics particularly relevant to parents, such as teacher shortages, class sizes, and the availability of childcare.