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2. Outline. What's the issue? Who's responsible? Elections Canada's approach to date Moving forward . 3. 1) What's the Issue?. . 4. Voter Turnout in Canada. Federal general elections, 1945
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1. 1 Voter Participation, Advertising and Outreach: Elections Canada’s Experience Miriam Lapp, Senior Advisor, Research and Outreach First Inter-American Electoral Training Seminar
Mexico City
November 17-21, 2008
2. 2 Outline What’s the issue?
Who’s responsible?
Elections Canada’s approach to date
Moving forward
3. 3 1) What’s the Issue?
4. 4 Voter Turnout in Canada Federal general elections, 1945–2008
5. 5 Turnout Trends by Age Group
6. 6 Turnout by Age in 2004 and 2006 Turnout by 18- to 24-year-olds:
37% in 2004
44% in 2006
Source: EC turnout studies
7. 7 Turnout Among Aboriginal People First Nations, Inuit, Métis
4% of Canadian population
18% are 15-24 years old
Post-election surveys: 23% lower
Higher rates reported by Métis and Inuit
Higher rates reported off reserve
8. 8 Turnout Among Ethnocultural Communities Ethnic Diversity Survey, 2002 (Statistics Canada)
Immigrant status alone is not a barrier.
“Newcomers” (post-1991) voted at lower rates than established immigrants, all else equal.
Turnout varies between ethnocultural communities: lowest rates found among visible minorities.
Lowest turnout rates: Young, foreign-born individuals of Chinese origin (44.8%), and young, Canadian-born blacks (51%).
9. 9 Target Groups Youth
Aboriginal electors
Ethnocultural communities
Electors with special needs:
Disabilities
Low literacy
Homeless
10. 10 2) Who’s Responsible?
11. 11 Mandate to Educate and Inform Canada Elections Act (s. 18) gives the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada the mandate to:
“Implement public education and information programs to make the electoral process better known to the public, particularly to those persons and groups most likely to experience difficulties in exercising their democratic rights.”
“Provide the public, both inside and outside Canada, with information relating to Canada’s electoral process, the democratic right to vote and how to be a candidate.”
12. 12 Elections Canada’s Strategic Plan 2008–2013 Trust
Accessibility
Engagement
particular focus on youth engagement
13. 13 Key “How to Vote” or Accessibility Variables General population (lower SES)
Did not know where and when
Were not registered
Too busy/overworked
Youth
Perception that registration and voting are complicated
Registration coverage issues
High mobility leading to confusion on where to vote
Too busy/overworked
Aboriginal
Language/communication barriers
Remoteness of many Aboriginal communities (accessibility)
Ethnocultural/visible minority groups
Language/communication barriers
Misunderstanding of electoral process
Need to register
Too busy/overworked (focus on basic needs)
Electors with disabilities/homeless electors
Accessibility problems
Lack of awareness on how to register and vote
Information not accessible
Seniors
Sickness or physical limitation
14. 14 Key “Why Vote” or Engagement Variables General population (lower SES)
Turned off by politics
Do not like any of the proposed candidates
Do not know which candidate or party to vote for
Think that voting does not matter (cynicism)
Youth
Lack of political knowledge/ understanding of how politics affects their lives
Low interest/political apathy
Weaker sense of civic duty
Different priorities and interaction with political process
Limited contact with parties and candidates
Aboriginal
Current and historical contexts
Perceived illegitimacy of voting
Perceived inability to influence the vote
Lack of contact with parties and candidates
General feeling of exclusion
Ethnocultural/visible minority groups
Lack of awareness of democratic rights
Traditional beliefs/experiences may inhibit political engagement
Lack of candidates from ethnocultural communities
Electors with disabilities
Accessibility issues inhibiting political engagement
Homeless electors
Fear that personal information will be used by others (e.g. police)
15. 15 EMBs and Public Education:Mixed Expectations Legitimacy
Trust
Capacity
16. 16 3) Elections Canada’s Approach to Date Focus on communications
17. 17 Qualitative analysis of
Graphic elements
“Social issues” content vs. information
Evolution of the creative process
Movement towards the “social issues” concept
Change of approach to communicate new ID rules
Potential use of social marketing campaign outside an election period
18. 18 Television Concept 1 (30 seconds)
19. 19 Television Concept 2
20. 20 Television/Cinema (15 sec.)
21. 21 Campaign objectives for the 40th general election Encourage Canadian electors to exercise their right to vote
Inform Canadian electors of the new identification rules to vote on election day:
Proving identity and address
List of acceptable pieces of ID
www.elections.ca for detailed information
22. 22 Target groups General public (all citizens who are at least 18 years old on election day)
Youth
Ethnocultural communities
Aboriginal communities
23. 23 An integrated communication approach
24. 24
25. 25 Web Banners - MSN
26. 26 Web Banners - Google
27. 27 Web Banners - LouLou
28. 28 Web Banner (Canadians abroad)
29. 29 Web Banner Ad (Aboriginal)
30. 30 Print Campaign Mainstream, Aboriginal, Ethnocultural
31. 31 Reaching Out to Youth Registration initiatives and mailings to young Canadians
“Leave Your Mark” reminder card sent during an election to those not registered
Targeted revision in student areas
Polling sites in residences on campus
Service Standards for Student Electors
32. 32 Reaching Out toYouth Targeted communications (and student associations)
Youth Web site
Community Relations Officer Program
Youth election officers
Partnerships: Student Vote
33. 33 Reaching Out to Aboriginal Electors Poll initiatives in Aboriginal communities
Aboriginal Elder and Youth Program
Community Relations Officer Program
Web page for Aboriginal voters
Material available in 8 Aboriginal languages
Targeted communication
Partnerships: Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
34. 34 Reaching Out to Ethnocultural Communities Voter information in 27 heritage languages
Targeted communication
Community Relations Officer Program
Language interpretation service
35. 35 Reaching Out to Electors with Special Needs Seniors: Web banner and e-mail
Targeted revision for seniors
Level access
Mobile polls
Alternative methods of voting
Special needs Web page
Services and information in multiple formats
Targeted communication
Community Relations Officer Program (homeless electors)
36. 36 Electors with Special Needs
37. 37 4) Moving Forward
38. 38 What Have We Learned? Challenges:
Capacity – managing external expectations
Internal coordination
Measuring impact
39. 39 Moving Forward More research, and stronger linkages between research and activities
More strategic
Better coordination (internal and external)
Increase/improve evaluation
Evaluation framework – 40th general election
40. 40 Thank you!