respondent's sex (own statement)
1 = male
2 = female
3 = indeterminate/other

how attached the respondent feels to the canton of Aargau
1 = 0 (not attached at all)
2 = 1
3 = 2
4 = 3
5 = 4 (strongly attached)

respondent's interest in politics in the canton of Aargau
1 = not interested at all
2 = rather uninterested
3 = rather interested
4 = very interested

respondent's participation status at the current ballot (blank votes count as 'participated')
1 = not participated
2 = participated

whether or not indecision was a reason for the respondent to abstain from voting (only non-voters)
1 = is not true
2 = is true

respondent's voting decision on the federal proposal "Volksinitiative «Für eine massvolle Zuwanderung (Begrenzungsinitiative)»" (only voters)
1 = yes (affirmative vote)
2 = no (negative vote)
3 = empty (blank vote) or not voted

importance the respondent attaches to the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule"
1 = 0 (not important at all)
2 = 1
3 = 2
4 = 3
5 = 4
6 = 5
7 = 6
8 = 7
9 = 8
10 = 9
11 = 10 (very important)

whether or not the respondent would be personally affected by the adoption of the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule"
1 = no
2 = yes, for the better
3 = yes, for the worse

respondent's information level on the federal proposal "Volksinitiative «Für eine massvolle Zuwanderung (Begrenzungsinitiative)»"
1 = 0 (not informed at all)
2 = 1
3 = 2
4 = 3
5 = 4
6 = 5
7 = 6
8 = 7
9 = 8
10 = 9
11 = 10 (very well informed)

whether or not the respondent would still have participated in the ballot if only federal and no cantonal proposals had been put to the vote (only federal and cantonal participants)
1 = certainly not
2 = probably not
3 = probably
4 = certainly

level of difficulty in understanding the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" for the respondent (only voters)
1 = rather easy
2 = rather difficult

respondent's time of decision concerning the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" (only voters)
1 = from the very beginning
2 = during the voting campaign
3 = at the last moment

respondent's agreement to the pro-argument "The abolition of school board system contributes to a lean state, as administrative expenses are reduced and tax money is freed up for other purposes." in favor of the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führ
1 = strongly disagree
2 = rather disagree
3 = rather agree
4 = fully agree

importance the respondent attaches to the pro-argument "The abolition of school board system contributes to a lean state, as administrative expenses are reduced and tax money is freed up for other purposes." in favor of the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisati
1 = irrelevant
2 = rather unimportant
3 = rather important
4 = very important

respondent's answer to the skill question "What agreement with the European Union (EU) is the primary issue in the vote on the federal «Begrenzungsinitiative»" about the federal proposal "Volksinitiative «Für eine massvolle Zuwanderung (Begrenzungsinit
1 = Land Transport Agreement («Landverkehrsabkommen»)
2 = Treaty on the Free Movement of Persons («Personenfreizügigkeitsabkommen»)
3 = Agreement of Technical Barriers to Trade («Abkommen über technische Handelshemmnisse»)

respondent's answer to the skill question "How large was the net immigration (difference between immigration and emigration) from the EU to Switzerland last year?" about the federal proposal "Volksinitiative «Für eine massvolle Zuwanderung (Begrenzungsin
1 = Less than 40'000 people.
2 = Between 40'000 and 60'000 people.
3 = More than 60'000 people.

respondent's answer to the skill question "If the Treaty on the Free Movement of Persons with the EU is terminated, which of the following agreements automatically cease to be in force within six months as a result of the so-called guillotine clause?" abou
1 = The Free Trade Agreement with the EU.
2 = The Schengen/Dublin agreements.
3 = The other six agreements of Bilaterals I.

respondent's answer to the skill question "What is new compared to the current hunting law?" about the federal proposal "Änderung des Jagdgesetzes" (2nd answer is correct; only voters)
1 = Cantons can order the shoot-down of a wolf if it has caused damage before despite herd protection measures.
2 = Cantons can order the shoot-down of single wolves if they behave abnormally or become dangerous.

respondent's answer to the skill question "How many sheep and goats have been killed by wolves yearly since 2009?" about the federal proposal "Änderung des Jagdgesetzes" (2nd answer is correct; only voters)
1 = about 50–200 animals
2 = about 300–500 animals
3 = over 1000 animals

respondent's answer to the skill question "Which of the following parties and organizations have issued a Yes recommendation on the hunting law?" about the federal proposal "Änderung des Jagdgesetzes" (2nd answer is correct; only voters)
1 = Grüne and GLP
2 = CVP and SVP
3 = WWF and Pro Natura

respondent's answer to the skill question "The members of the school board in a municipality…" about the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" (2nd answer is correct; only voters)
1 = …are appointed by the municipal council.
2 = …are elected by the people.
3 = …must be members of a political party.

respondent's answer to the skill question "Following the abolition of school boards, their tasks are fulfilled by…" about the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" (1st answer is correct; only voters)
1 = …the municipal council.
2 = …the school management
3 = …the regional school councils.

respondent's answer to the skill question "The new school law allows the delegation of personnel decisions…" about the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" (1st answer is correct; only voters)
1 = …to a member of the municipal council or the school management.
2 = …to the superintendent of schools of the canton of Aargau.
3 = …to the municipal assembly or parliament.

respondent's answer to the skill question "Aargau's cantonal energy law aims to implement the federal government's Energy Strategy 2050 in the building sector. What percentage of total energy consumption in Switzerland is accounted for by the building sect
1 = about 10 percent
2 = about 30 percent
3 = about 50 percent

respondent's answer to the skill question "The new energy law requires that a certain percentage of the energy demand must be covered by renewable energy when replacing the heating system. How large is this percentage?" about the cantonal proposal "Energie
1 = 50 percent
2 = 30 percent
3 = 10 percent

respondent's answer to the skill question "In the final vote in the Grand Council, which parties voted by a majority against the law?" about the cantonal proposal "Energiegesetz des Kantons Aargau (EnergieG)" (2nd answer is correct; only voters)
1 = SP and Grüne
2 = SVP, EDU and GLP
3 = SVP and FDP

whether or not the respondent used free newspapers and free online journalism / news sites to learn about the cantonal proposals (only voters)
1 = not used
2 = used

how often the respondent discussed the cantonal proposals with acquaintances
1 = never
2 = rarely
3 = now and then
4 = frequently

whether or not the respondent saw political advertisings such as street posters, flyers, online advertisements, etc. for or against the cantonal proposals
1 = Yes, most of them from the pro camp
2 = Yes, most of them from the contra camp
3 = Yes, from both sides to about the same extent
4 = No, I have not seen any political advertising

respondent's primary source of political information (on- vs. offline)
1 = online, i.e. via the Internet
2 = offline, for example via print media, television or radio
3 = on- as well as offline to about the same extent
4 = I never inform myself about politics

importance the respondent attaches to the position of the cantonal government of Aargau regarding his/her voting decision on the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" (only participating online respondents)
1 = very important
2 = rather important
3 = rather unimportant
4 = irrelevant
5 = don't know the government's position on this proposal

importance the respondent attaches to the position of the cantonal parliament of Aargau regarding his/her voting decision on the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule" (only participating online respondents)
1 = very important
2 = rather important
3 = rather unimportant
4 = irrelevant
5 = don't know the parliament's position on this proposal

the political party the respondent feels closest to his/her own political stance
1 = SVP
2 = SP
3 = FDP
4 = CVP
5 = Grüne
6 = GLP
7 = EVP
8 = BDP
9 = custom answer
10 = none

respondent's left-right self-positioning
1 = 0 (far left)
2 = 1
3 = 2
4 = 3
5 = 4
6 = 5 (middle)
7 = 6
8 = 7
9 = 8
10 = 9
11 = 10 (far right)

respondent's preferred level of Switzerland opening up to foreign countries
1 = 1 (opens more to the outside)
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5 (closes off more)

respondent's preferred level of equality of opportunities for foreigners in relation to Swiss nationals
1 = 1 (equal opportunities)
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5 (better opportunities for Swiss)

respondent's attitude towards the opposition between an extended social welfare state and more individual responsibility
1 = 1 (stronger welfare state)
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5 (higher self-responsibility)

respondent's attitude towards the opposition between state intervention and market competition
1 = 1 (stronger state control)
2 = 2
3 = 3
4 = 4
5 = 5 (more corporate freedom)

respondent's marital status (own statement)
1 = single
2 = married
3 = widowed
4 = divorced
5 = in civil union
6 = dissolved civil union

respondent's denomination or religious community
1 = none/undenominational
2 = Protestant/Reformed/Evangelical
3 = Catholic/Christian Catholic/Old Catholic
4 = Jewish
5 = Muslim
6 = other

respondent's highest level of education
1 = no graduation
2 = compulsory schooling
3 = apprenticeship, commercial diploma
4 = academic high school, Federal Vocational Baccalaureate, graduate/technical secondary school
5 = higher vocational training, higher vocational school
6 = technical college/polytechnic
7 = university, ETH

respondent's current employment situation
1 = self-employed/freelancer
2 = employee in the company of the own family
3 = employee
4 = apprentice
5 = student
6 = pensioner
7 = unemployed
8 = inactive person with disability
9 = housewife/househusband
10 = other inactive person

respondent's former employment situation (only economically inactive online respondents)
1 = self-employed/freelancer
2 = employee in the company of the own family
3 = employee
4 = apprentice
5 = something else

respondent's current employment level (only economically active persons)
1 = part-time employed less than 50 %
2 = part-time employed 50–69 %
3 = part-time employed 70–89 %
4 = full-time employed 90 % or more

respondent's professional position (only employees)
1 = normal employee
2 = employee with management tasks/trainer
3 = directorial employee

respondent's occupational sector (only economically active persons)
1 = private sector
2 = public sector
3 = non-profit sector
4 = mixed-economy sector

size of the company the respondent works for (only economically active persons)
1 = 1–9
2 = 10–49
3 = 50–249
4 = 250–999
5 = 1'000+

sector of the company the respondent works for (only economically active persons)
1 = manufacturing of products (industry)
2 = retail and wholesale trade
3 = health and social services
4 = services such as consulting, auditing, research and development
5 = construction sector
6 = education and teaching
7 = services such as travel agency, security service, employment agency, caretaker, etc.
8 = financial services (banking, insurance, etc.)
9 = hotel and catering industry
10 = transport and dispatch services
11 = public administration, defence and social security
12 = agriculture, forestry and fishing
13 = personal services (e.g. hairdresser) and member organisations (e.g. religious associations)
14 = information and communication
15 = custom answer

respondent's housing situation
1 = tenant
2 = owner
3 = other (e.g. free or official residence)

the respondent's citizenship(s) at birth
1 = Switzerland (CH)
2 = Switzerland (CH) plus other(s) ("dual citizen")
3 = other(s)

whether the respondent's parents were born in Switzerland or abroad
1 = yes, both in Switzerland
2 = no, one parent abroad
3 = no, both parents abroad

respondent's monthly gross household income
1 = up to CHF 3000
2 = CHF 3001–6000
3 = CHF 6001–9000
4 = CHF 9001–12000
5 = CHF 12001–15000
6 = over CHF 15000

how well the respondent gets along with his income
1 = not at all well
2 = not so well
3 = pretty well
4 = very well

respondent's personal share of gross household income (only persons not living alone)
1 = much less than half or nothing
2 = less than half
3 = about half
4 = more than half
5 = much more than half or everything

the channel through which the respondent answered the questionnaire
1 = online
2 = print

the way the questionnaire was provisioned to the respondent
1 = online and print simultaneously
2 = online first, print only later with reminder letter
3 = online only

respondent's questionnaire completion status
1 = finished without interruption
2 = finished after interruption
3 = unfinished

dummy value indicating whether or not the respondent received a postal reminder
1 = received no reminder
2 = received reminder

respondent's district of residence
1 = Aarau
2 = Baden
3 = Bremgarten
4 = Brugg
5 = Kulm
6 = Laufenburg
7 = Lenzburg
8 = Muri
9 = Rheinfelden
10 = Zofingen
11 = Zurzach

lower age limit of the municipal subscription of the "easyvote" booklet
1 = none (municipality has not subscribed to the "easyvote" booklet)
2 = 18
3 = 19
4 = 20
5 = 21
6 = 22
7 = 23
8 = 24
9 = 25

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: Municipality size class ("Gemeinde-Grössenklasse")
1 = < 1,000 inhabitants
2 = 1000–1999 inhabitants
3 = 2000–4999 inhabitants
4 = 5000–9999 inhabitants
5 = 10000–19999 inhabitants
6 = 20000–49999 inhabitants
7 = 50000–99999 inhabitants
8 = ≥ 100000 inhabitants

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: Space with urban character ("Raum mit städtischem Charakter 2012")
1 = rural municipality without urban character
2 = core municipality outside agglomerations
3 = multiply oriented municipality
4 = agglomeration belt municipality
5 = agglomeration core municipality (secondary core)
6 = agglomeration core municipality (main core)
7 = agglomeration core municipality (core city)

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: Agglomeration size class 2012 ("Agglomerationsgrössenklasse 2012")
1 = no agglomeration affiliation
2 = < 50000 inhabitants
3 = 50000–99999 inhabitants
4 = 100000–249999 inhabitants
5 = 250000–499999 inhabitants
6 = ≥ 500000 inhabitants

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: (Statistical) cities 2012 ("(Statistische) Städte 2012")
1 = city
2 = no city

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: Eurostat's degree of urbanisation 2011 (DEGURBA)
1 = thinly populated area
2 = intermediate density area
3 = densely populated area

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: Municipality typology 2012 in 9 categories ("Gemeindetypologie 2012 (9 Kategorien)")
1 = rural peripheral municipality
2 = rural centrally located municipality
3 = rural central municipality
4 = periurban municipality of low density
5 = periurban municipality of medium density
6 = periurban municipality of high density
7 = urban municipality of a small or outside of an agglomeration
8 = urban municipality of a medium-sized agglomeration
9 = urban municipality of a large agglomeration

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: Municipality typology 2012 in 25 categories ("Gemeindetypologie 2012 (25 Kategorien)")
1 = rural peripheral mixed municipality
2 = rural peripheral agricultural municipality
3 = rural peripheral tourism municipality
4 = rural centrally located service municipality
5 = rural centrally located industrial municipality
6 = rural centrally located agricultural municipality
7 = service municipality of a rural centre
8 = industrial municipality of a rural centre
9 = tourism municipality of a rural centre
10 = periurban low density service municipality
11 = periurban low density industrial municipality
12 = periurban low density agricultural municipality
13 = periurban medium density service municipality
14 = periurban medium density industrial municipality
15 = periurban high density service municipality
16 = periurban high density industrial municipality
17 = urban service municipality of a small or outside of an agglomeration
18 = urban industrial municipality of a small or outside of an agglomeration
19 = urban tourism municipality of a small or outside of an agglomeration
20 = urban residential municipality of a medium-sized agglomeration
21 = urban workplace municipality of a medium-sized agglomeration
22 = core city of a medium-sized agglomeration
23 = urban residential municipality of a large agglomeration
24 = urban workplace municipality of a large agglomeration
25 = core city of a large agglomeration

Spatial typology by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) of respondent's place of residence: City/rural typology 2012 ("Stadt/Land-Typologie 2012")
1 = rural
2 = intermediary
3 = urban

dummy value indicating whether or not respondent is working (additional routing question for students and pensioners; only online respondents)
1 = yes (working)
2 = no (not working)

type of the ballot
1 = referendum
2 = election
3 = both_referendum_and_election

respondent's sex (official cantonal register information)
1 = male
2 = female
3 = indeterminate

dummy value indicating whether or not the respondent's own statement about his/her sex matches the official cantonal register information
1 = mismatch
2 = match

respondent's age group (derived from age)
1 = 18–29 years
2 = 30–39 years
3 = 40–49 years
4 = 50–59 years
5 = 60–69 years
6 = 70+ years

respondent's left-right self-positioning (reduced)
1 = far left (0–2)
2 = left (3–4)
3 = center (5)
4 = right (6–7)
5 = far right (8–10)

importance (reduced) the respondent attaches to the cantonal proposal "Neuorganisation der Führungsstrukturen der Aargauer Volksschule"
1 = very low (0–2)
2 = rather low (3–4)
3 = medium (5)
4 = rather high (6–7)
5 = very high (8–10)

respondent's marital status (own statement; reduced)
1 = single
2 = married/in civil union
3 = widowed
4 = divorced/dissolved civil union

respondent's denomination or religious community (reduced)
1 = none/undenominational
2 = Protestant/Reformed/Evangelical
3 = Catholic/Christian Catholic/Old Catholic
4 = other

respondent's highest level of education (reduced)
1 = no graduation, compulsory schooling
2 = apprenticeship, commercial diploma
3 = higher education entrance qualification, diploma/technical secondary school, higher vocational training
4 = polytechnic, university, ETH

respondent's current employment situation (reduced)
1 = self-employed/freelancer
2 = employee
3 = in education
4 = pensioner
5 = unemployed
6 = other inactive person
7 = housewife/househusband

the political party (recoded extended set) the respondent feels closest to his/her own political stance
1 = SVP
2 = SP
3 = FDP
4 = CVP
5 = Grüne
6 = GLP
7 = EVP
8 = BDP
9 = other
10 = multiple (left)
11 = multiple (center-right)
12 = multiple (arbitrary)
13 = none

empirical quarter the respondent's monthly gross equivalised income belongs in
1 = bottom income quarter
2 = second income quarter
3 = third income quarter
4 = top income quarter

dummy value indicating whether or not the respondent answered the skill question "What agreement with the European Union (EU) is the primary issue in the vote on the federal «Begrenzungsinitiative»" about the federal proposal "Volksinitiative «Für eine
1 = wrong
2 = correct

dummy value indicating whether or not the respondent automatically receives the "easyvote" booklet by postal mail (requires that the respondent's municipality has subscribed to this service for the respondent's age range)
1 = receives no "easyvote" booklet from the municipality
2 = receives "easyvote" booklet from the municipality

dummy value indicating whether or not the User-Agent string of the respondent's web browser corresponds to a mobile device (smartphone, tablet etc.; only online respondents)
1 = non-mobile device
2 = mobile device

respondent's latent expertise on the federal proposal "Volksinitiative «Für eine massvolle Zuwanderung (Begrenzungsinitiative)»", measured in 5 discrete categories (based on latent_expertise_federal_proposal_1; only voters)
1 = very low
2 = rather low
3 = medium
4 = rather high
5 = very high