Election tool by the Irish Independent, Tree Company and Bpact
VoteSmart is an online tool that helps voters discover which Irish presidential candidate best matches their personal views. Based on responses to 23 statements, it reveals whether users’ opinions align more closely with Catherine Connolly or Heather Humphreys, the two final candidates in the 2025 Irish presidential election.
Tens of thousands of people have already used the platform, following its success during last year’s parliamentary elections when a similar collaboration was launched.
Collaboration between media, academia and civic technology
The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Irish Independent, Professor David Farrell (University College Dublin), Professor Stefaan Walgrave (University of Antwerp) and Tree Company, with support from Bpact. Together they aim to make political preferences more transparent and to help citizens make better informed voting decisions.
How VoteSmart works
By comparing voters’ answers with those of the presidential candidates, the tool offers insight into how individual values and opinions relate to Ireland’s broader political landscape. The statements addressed key themes such as democratic reform, ethical issues, foreign policy, and the symbolic role of the Irish presidency. For example, users were asked whether “the EU should get more powers” or whether “the President should speak out in support of LGBT+ rights,” helping them reflect on their own positions in relation to the candidates.
In the weeks leading up to the 2025 election, both candidates completed a detailed survey with 42 questions covering the powers of the presidency, Ireland’s international position, and domestic priorities.
Promoting civic engagement through digital innovation
This projects fits perfectly in our common mission to make political insight accessible and to strengthen civic engagement.
