Mail & Guardian (M&G) Online has launched an interactive online tool to help users find the political parties that best represent their views, as well as giving detailed information on the election process in SA.
Matthew Buckland, editor of the M&G Online, says the guide is the only one of its kind giving a quiz to show users which parties are aligned with their views as well as providing detailed online information.
"The interactive guide is the first time we are using Flash technology (excluding advertising) on our site. It really helps to represent the issues graphically to the user and we`re using it to provide them with a whole host of information.
"While it may take some time to load, Flash technology gives users a progress report which means users will be more likely to wait for the download," he says.
The quiz is made up of 11 questions about election issues such as the death penalty, HIV/AIDS, the basic income grant, affirmative action, the land question and Zimbabwe. Buckland says 10 political parties were approached for their standpoints on these topical issues. Their responses were used in the background information on the site and in compiling the quiz.
"The quiz does have a serious edge to it in that the questions are based on the actual answers given to the M&G Online by the political parties. However, there is also a definite tongue-in-cheek element as the quiz is by no means comprehensive or scientific. Readers must make of it what they will and have fun taking it," he says.
Once the user has completed the quiz, they are shown which parties could best represent them based on how the user`s answers match up to the parties` standpoints on key issues. Users can also view where each political party stands on the questions raised in the quiz.
Buckland says M&G did consider doing an online mock election but felt the demographics of Internet users would not accurately represent the vote of the majority in SA and therefore decided against it.
The interactive guide also includes a gallery from M&G`s archives and news agencies as well as past election results and demographics.
"We will be updating the gallery in the run up to the elections and will also be providing live election results in the interactive guide as they become available on the day," he says.
To view the interactive guide, go to M&G Online and click on the Elections 2004 Interactive Guide.
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