National Youth Survey Report
Introduction
The National Youth Survey was commissioned by Elections Canada to better understand the reasons why youth may or may not participate in the electoral process. The survey, which was conducted immediately following the May 2011 federal general election, included a national random sample of 1,372 youth and young adults aged 18 to 34 years, and an additional non-random sample of 1,293 youth from the following subgroups: Aboriginal youth, ethnocultural youth, youth in rural areas, youth with disabilities and unemployed youth not in school. With a total sample of 2,665 young Canadians, the study provides a unique portrait of youth voting behaviour in Canada and offers important recommendations to increase youth participation in the electoral process. The appendixes to the study will be available on this web page at a later date.
Main Findings
R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd.
September 20, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- SECTION 1: GENERAL PROJECT OVERVIEW
- SECTION 2: OVERVIEW OF METHODS
- SECTION 3: PARTICIPATION IN THE MAY 2011 GENERAL ELECTION
- 3.1 Participation in the May 2011 General Election
- 3.2 Electoral Participation by Key Subgroups
- 3.3 Electoral Participation by Socio-demographic Characteristics
- 3.4 Explaining Voting Behaviour
- 3.5 Electoral Participation and Motivation Barriers
- 3.6 Electoral Participation and Access Barriers
- 3.7 Influencers
- 3.8 The Impact of Barriers and Influencers on Electoral Participation
- SECTION 4: KEY SUBGROUPS – BARRIERS AND INFLUENCERS TO ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION
- SECTION 5: SEGMENTED PROFILES OF YOUTH BASED ON VOTING PATTERNS
- SECTION 6: INTERVENTIONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION
- SECTION 7: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
TABLES, CHARTS AND FIGURES
- Table 2‑1: Number of Valid Completed Surveys by Mode of Completion for Subgroups
- Chart 3‑1: Patterns of Participation in the May 2011 General Election
- Table 3‑1: Self-reported Participation in the 2011 General Election by Youth Subgroups
- Table 3‑2: Self-reported Participation in the 2011 General Election
- Chart 3‑2: Association between Participation in the 2011 General Election and Education
- Table 3‑3: Rates of Electoral Participation for Families with and without Children
- Table 3‑4: Reasons for Voting
- Table 3‑5: Reasons for Not Voting
- Table 3‑6: Association between Voting and Interest in Canadian Politics
- Table 3‑7: Association between Voting and Participation in Political Activities
- Chart 3‑3: Association between Participation in Political Activities and Voting Behaviour
- Table 3‑8: Political Knowledge
- Chart 3‑4: Association between Political Knowledge and Voting Behaviour
- Table 3‑9: Administrative Barriers to Voting
- Table 3‑10: Awareness of Different Ways of Voting
- Chart 3‑5: Association between Voting Participation and Awareness of Different Ways of Voting
- Table 3‑11: Administrative Barriers to Voting
- Table 3‑12: Feeling Welcome at the Polling Station
- Table 3‑13: People or Groups Influencing Voting Decisions
- Table 3‑14: Main Source of Information About the Election
- Table 3‑15: Summary of Characteristics Associated with Voting Behaviour
- Table 4‑1: Electoral Participation by Subgroup
- Chart 4‑1: Participation in the May 2011 General Election by Aboriginal Subgroup
- Table 4‑2: Reasons for Voting
- Table 4‑3: Reasons for Not Voting
- Table 4‑4: Attitudes toward Politics and Democracy
- Chart 4‑2: Political Knowledge
- Table 4‑5: Knowing When, Where and How to Vote among Non-voters
- Chart 4‑3: Awareness of Different Voting Options
- Chart 4‑4: Percentage of Youth Who Had Received a VIC
- Chart 4‑5: Percentage of Youth Non-voters Who Disagreed or Strongly Disagreed That They Would Feel Welcome at the Polling Station
- Table 4‑6: Factors Explaining Subgroup Voting Behaviour
- Table 5‑1: General Voting Patterns
- Table 5‑2: Profiles of Youth Voting Patterns Compared to Habitual Voters
- Table 5‑3: Voting Behaviour versus General Voting Patterns
- Table 5‑4: Top Reasons for Voting among Gained Voters
- Table 5‑5: Top Reasons for Not Voting among Lost Voters
- Figure 6-1: Overview of Barriers to Electoral Participation
- Chart 6-1: Quadrant Segmentation of Subgroups
- Table 6-1: Estimates of Quadrants and Subgroups in the Canadian Population
- Chart 6-2: Cluster Segmentation of Canadian Youth
- Table 6-2: Youth Clusters
- Table 6-3: Interventions with the Potential to Address Motivation and Access Barriers
- Table 6-4: Influencers to Youth Voting
- Table 6-5: Strategies for Reaching Youth