Introduction

The Wahl-O-Mat of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BPB) and the Berlin State Agency for Civic Education has been online since Monday. This allows all voters to compare their political stance with the programs of all 17 parties contesting the Abgeordnetenhaus election on a district or state list.

Tool Details and Functionality

The offering is based on 38 theses that cover the most important political questions of the Berlin election. For each thesis a user can agree, disagree, or remain neutral. Individual theses can be skipped and weighted, enabling a personalized profile.

Creation and Editorial Team

An editorial team of young voters and experts from academia, education, and the responsible staff of the federal and state agencies developed the 38 theses. Programmatic statements and party election programs were incorporated to ensure the relevance of the topics.

Transparency and Answers

The parties’ responses are displayed at the end of the Wahl-O-Mat. Each party provides a brief justification for each answer, explaining why it responded in a particular way to a thesis. This feature is intended to increase transparency and help users better understand party positions.

History and Usage

Since its launch in 2002, the Wahl-O-Mat has been used more than 160 million times. The tool has been employed in federal, state, and European elections and has become a popular aid for voters.

Funding and Purpose

The Federal and State Agencies for Civic Education are primarily funded by public money. The Wahl-O-Mat does not provide a voting recommendation but serves as a tool to help voters gain an overview of party positions and make an informed electoral decision.

Partners and Additional Offerings

The rbb is a media partner of the Wahl-O-Mat of the Federal Agency for Civic Education and the Berlin State Agency for Civic Education. The rbb also offers election-program checks on housing, transport, security, education, culture, and sport. The program "rbb24 Inforadio" reports on the tool on 24.08.2026 at 17:40, with Jessica Wiener and Martin Schmitz as hosts.