In DUST, we combine our explorations of place-based democratic decision making, with increased citizen participation at scale. To reach large audiences, innovative tools and methodologies are required. One such tool is the e-democracy tool pol.is. Pol.is has emerged as a pioneering platform for e-democracy. It is designed to facilitate large-scale discussions and consensus-building in an intuitive and data-driven manner. Governments, organizations, and grassroots movements worldwide have turned to Pol.is to enhance participatory democracy and make decision-making more transparent and inclusive. Now, it is featuring in DUST too!
What is Pol.is?
Pol.is is an open-source online platform that enables groups to gather public opinion and understand diverse viewpoints in real-time. Unlike traditional surveys or comment sections, which can become polarized and unstructured, Pol.is uses a unique approach to encourage productive discourse. Participants submit short statements, which others can agree, disagree, or pass on. The system then applies machine learning and statistical clustering to identify patterns, common ground, and areas of divergence.
How Pol.is Works
Create a conversation: Pol.is discussions are set up by defining the topic and inviting participants.
Submit statements: Participants contribute statements related to the discussion topic.
Vote on statements: Users anonymously vote on statements by agreeing, disagreeing, or skipping.
Analyse the data: The platform clusters responses using machine learning to identify trends and groupings.
Review visualisations: Organizers can view real-time data visualizations showing consensus and divergence.
Make informed decisions: Insights from the discussion are used to guide policymaking and develop collective governance strategies.
Why Pol.is Matters for E-Democracy
Traditional democratic processes often struggle with misinformation, polarisation, and limited public participation. Pol.is helps address these issues by:
Reducing polarisation: By focusing on shared values rather than divisive arguments, Pol.is fosters a culture of consensus-building.
Enhancing participation: The intuitive and anonymous nature of Pol.is encourages wider public engagement, including from those who might hesitate to speak in traditional settings.
Providing data-driven insights: Decision-makers gain valuable, unbiased insights into public sentiment without the noise of social media.
Improving transparency: Public discussions remain open, allowing all participants to see how conclusions are reached.
The power of Pol.is
Governments and organizations around the world have successfully used Pol.is for policymaking and public consultation. A notable example is Taiwan, where the government has used Pol.is to engage citizens in shaping internet regulations and other policies. By leveraging AI-driven insights, officials were able to craft policies with widespread public support, demonstrating how digital tools can enhance democracy.
Pol.is is transforming the way societies engage in democratic discourse. By combining AI-driven analytics with participatory democracy, it provides a scalable and efficient way to gather diverse perspectives and find common ground.
We are about to start our Pol.is activities in some of our case study regions. Do you want to get involved? Stay tuned for more information!