Just can’t get enough – profiling users of multiple Voting Advice Applications

In recent years, elections increasingly feature multiple Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) for public use. However, little is known about the user behavior – specifically, whether individuals engage with multiple VAAs and what drives this behavior. While previous research identifies VAA users as typically younger, male, highly educated, and politically interested, it does not explore why some use multiple VAAs. This study fills that gap by analyzing data from 3,696 VAA users during the 2024 Austrian National Election, where over four VAAs were available. Findings show that 70% of users engage with multiple VAAs. Political interest increases the likelihood of multiple usage by 18%, while lower vote certainty also correlates with higher usage. Additionally, greater satisfaction with the political system raises the likelihood by 16%, and left-leaning users are 19.5% more likely than right-leaning users to use multiple VAAs. A Latent Class Analysis expands the existing VAA user typology (Seeker, Checker, Doubter) by introducing a new subgroup, the Skeptic, characterized by low engagement with multiple VAAs, a right-leaning ideology, and dissatisfaction with the political system.