In multi-party systems voters can choose from many alternatives. Accordingly, scholars of voting behavior usually assume that all available options are considered by voters. However, recent research on choice sets has shown that voters in different polities do not consider all possible alternatives when making up their mind about party choice in upcoming elections. Instead, they decide in at least two stages. Using data from the short-term campaign panel of the German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES) 2013 we will be able to address several issues. First, we will compare different methods for the measurement of size and content of choice sets. Second, we will focus on the characteristics and validity of choice sets. Third, we will explain size and content of choice sets, and fourth, how choice sets change over the course of the campaign.
