ABC News has launched an Australian-first interactive online tool to help voters engage with and understand policy issues in the lead-up to the federal election on 7 September.

By asking voters a series of questions based on leading policy areas, Vote Compass allows users to compare their views with the platforms of Australia’s three major parties.

Vote Compass methodically analyses user responses with data submitted to public record by Labor, the Coalition and the Australian Greens to deliver results in easy-to-read and comprehensive graphical representations.

Developed by a team of independent researchers in Toronto, the tool has been amended for Australian audiences and draws the sponsorship of both the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney.

Each policy question has been structured by political scientists across a number of Australian tertiary institutes and returns information from policy details, speeches and other official documents released by each of the major parties

For more information about the ABC News VoteCompass, click here.