Back in 2014, the Which Candidate? website launched in Ireland. It’s a fantastic resource which springs up around big election times, including the 2020 General Election. Whether you’re undecided, decided or “general election curious”, I strongly recommend spending some time on the platform to familiarise yourself with who you should vote for.
What is Which Candidate?
Which Candidate? was launched in 2014 by Dr. Rory Costello and John Costello to improve awareness amongst voters about who they are voting for and what policies they stand for. Much of Ireland, and formerly myself, had spent years voting in-line with family history, but increasing desire from the public to understand their vote better has led to a hunger for policy knowledge.
Which Candidate contacts or allows each candidate running in the election to provide comments on various policy questions. The same questions are then presented on the Which Candidate? website for voters. You answer the 32 questions and can view each candidates views after you do so.
In the end, you are presented with the candidate you are most closely aligned with.
Why is Which Candidate Important?
Most elections are hotly contested and covers a wide variety of topics and issues. Which Candidate? is the easiest way to compare and digest the opinions of most candidates across the full 2024 General Election.
It’s particularly important for GE24 because there’s both an ever-growing number of candidates and the electoral maps have changed quite a bit too. My own has shifted slightly which I only learned of when researching this very article, with 4 new constituencies and 14 more seats. You can check your constituency on The Electoral Commission website.
A very practical benefit of the platform is the final scorecards and mock ballot paper you can bookmark or screenshot. I’m a grown adult and I still find this incredibly useful at the polls. I take out my phone and jot down my preferences for as far as I’m largely aligned with a candidate. GE24 looks like 7 candidates in total will get a preference from me and then it’s up to the STV gods to see where they go.
The Pitfalls of Which Candidate
While helpful, Which Candidate? isn’t a perfect solution. Many policies and answers are sourced from the parties and not the candidates. Patrick Costello comes to mind when I think of TD’s who’ve gone against the grain of their own party.
In some cases, the candidates have not provided any answers whatsoever. But I’d argue if a candidate hasn’t taken the time to fill this in, they are unlikely to be that hard working for my vote.
Finally, it’s one thing to answer a question politically and a completely other thing to follow through with action.
Though not perfect, Which Candidate? is a unique solution to the suffocating amount of information going around in GE24.
In the past, I’ve referring to Which Candidate? as Tinder for politics, with my tongue firmly lodged in my cheek. But it truly is a great idea for those who want a one-stop-shop for finding a candidate that closely aligns with their own personal beliefs.
Which Candidate? is now live and ready to help you choose your GE24 Ballot Paper.