You read the law proposals? I don't have weeks to decipher and interpret dry verbose text and cross-reference each party's stance on it by sending emails. Especially since my country has 10+ national fractions.
In general, I try to understand their underlying values by reading discussions and previous news items. I vote based on values, not legislation snapshots.
In California, weeks before an election each voter gets mailed a booklet listing each proposition (proposed law that citizen or groups got on ballot) with argument from groups advocating both yay and nay. Quite handy to view.
And you can get the value each group advocating yah/nay also.
Same with candidates for elected positions.
No average voter can read all proposed laws and hope to understand it. And most definitely no news articles can help anyone to do so imho.
In general, I try to understand their underlying values by reading discussions and previous news items. I vote based on values, not legislation snapshots.