Two Young Israelis Launch Website to Help First-Time Voters Match Parties to Their Views

Kinar Chen Kortzbaum and Lotan Tena, two young Israelis, have developed an online platform called "HaKalfi" to assist first-time voters in Israel's upcoming 26th Knesset elections on October 27. The idea originated from a casual conversation among friends, where they noticed many peers lacked clear understanding of political parties' platforms and often voted based on family or social influence rather than personal conviction.

The website, launched about a month ago, offers users a simple questionnaire covering key issues such as economy, security, and religion-state relations. After answering 15 questions, users receive a percentage match with various political parties. The platform provides three questionnaire lengths and aims to clarify the political landscape amid widespread campaign noise.

Kortzbaum, a recent high school graduate from the "Derech" education network, and Tena, currently living in Italy, built the site using AI tools and their computer science knowledge. They source party positions from official statements and maintain ongoing contact with parties to update the platform with the latest stances. They also incorporate factual data on parties’ past actions, noting that some parties’ public claims may differ from their actual policies.

The creators emphasize that the site is not infallible and encourage users to independently research parties before voting. Their goal is to promote informed and independent political decisions, especially among 18-year-olds preparing for military service. Despite perceived low political awareness among youth, they are optimistic about voter turnout in their generation.

The platform has attracted over 10,000 visits since its public launch and continues to be refined based on user feedback. Kortzbaum and Tena hope their tool will help young Israelis navigate the complex political environment and make thoughtful choices in these critical elections.