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Online Survey of Associations


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Research purpose and objectives

As part of its evaluation of the 40th general election, Elections Canada wanted to assess its outreach activities for associations representing youth groups and student associations, Aboriginal associations, ethnocultural associations, and associations for persons with disabilities. The main objective of the study was to gather feedback on the information and services provided by Elections Canada in order to establish a baseline for these services, and to assist in identifying areas for improvement for future electoral events.

Specific objectives of the study include:

  • profiling the associations in terms of size and geographic scope,
  • determining the extent to which associations receive and request information from Elections Canada and disseminate this information to their members,
  • assessing satisfaction with the process of ordering materials from Elections Canada,
  • assessing the extent to which association members encountered problems voting in the recent general election, particularly in terms of problems related to the new identification requirements,
  • assessing the perceived effectiveness of Elections Canada's information products and services (including usage of e-bulletins), and
  • assessing usage of, and satisfaction with, the Community Relations Officer Program.

The study took the form of an online census of 1,000 associations to which Elections Canada sent some type of information materials related to the 40th general election. Of the 1,000 associations invited to participate, 119 completed the survey, including 55 ethnocultural associations, 36 student associations, 26 associations for people with special needs and 2 youth organization.

Key conclusions

It must be noted at the outset that this survey presents the opinions of only 119 associations, drawn from the 1,000 that were in the sampling frame for this study. We do not know to what extent this particular universe is representative of all Canadian associations. For this reason, the results of this study cannot be generalized with confidence to all associations in Canada. However, we can draw some overall conclusions limited to the responding sample of 119.

Overall, election-related information and materials are relevant to participating organizations and their members. More than half received specific information requests from their members and three-quarters provided election-related information to their members during the 40th general election (mostly through group sessions, displays or in person).

In addition, usage of and satisfaction with information materials provided to the associations by Elections Canada is high. While one-third ordered specific information materials from Elections Canada (and rated the ordering process very highly), two-thirds report having received information materials from Elections Canada (including unsolicited e-bulletins). Furthermore, most felt that the specific Elections Canada information products and services assessed are effective in informing voters about elections. Despite the mostly positive assessments, e-bulletins and, particularly, toll-free phone or TTY lines are less likely to be seen as effective. In the case of the toll-free lines, many study participants were unable to rate their effectiveness â€" this may indicate a lack of awareness of or familiarity with these products.

About one-quarter of participating student/youth and ethnocultural associations received services under the Community Relations Officer Program, mostly in the form of information materials or an information kiosk. Satisfaction with the services received was high; more than three-quarters were satisfied and four in ten were very satisfied. Among the communications-related activities assessed by these associations, distributing information materials was seen as most effective.

Slightly less than half of the participating associations report being aware of voting problems among their members during the 40th general election. The majority, however, did not believe that the new voter identification created an impediment to voting among their members.

Key findings

The following summarizes key findings from the research.

Provision of information to association membership

  • Three-quarters of participating associations provided election-related information to members during the 40th general election, most commonly on how, when and where to register and/or vote. Most distributed the information using information sessions or displays.
  • Just over half of the associations received specific requests for election-related information from members. Most requests were about how, when and where to vote and/or register. Most associations responded by directing members to the Elections Canada web site.

Elections Canada information products and services

  • Two-thirds of the participating associations report having received information materials from Elections Canada during the 40th general election. Guides and instructions on how to vote are most commonly reported, followed by posters.
  • Overall, one-third of the associations ordered information materials from Elections Canada during the 40th general election, with most ordering voting guides or materials in other languages (the latter mostly by ethnocultural associations.) The vast majority found the ordering process fast and easy.
  • Participating associations generally believe that all products/services assessed are effective in informing voters about federal elections. The www.elections.ca site, voter information guide in heritage languages, and the FAQs and web page for youth and students receive highest marks.
  • While Elections Canada sent e-bulletins to all associations targeted in this study, just over one-third report having received them. Most report distributing these e-bulletins to their members; the few that did not disseminate them generally felt it was not their responsibility to do so.

Community Relations Officer Program

  • One-quarter of the youth/student and ethnocultural associations that participated in the study report contact from an Elections Canada Community Relations Officer, with most reporting the officer provided information materials or a kiosk.
  • Three-quarters of the student/youth and ethnocultural associations that received services from an Elections Canada Community Relations Officer were satisfied with services provided. Four in ten were very satisfied. Few could give any suggestions to improve the program.
  • The student/youth and ethnocultural associations that participated in the study are generally positive about all communications services assessed, but are most positive about distributing information materials as an effective way to inform members about federal elections.

Voting problems encountered by association members

  • Just under four in ten participating associations indicate that their members reported problems while voting in the past federal election. The most commonly-reported problems include lack of proper identification (33%), accessibility issues (31%) and not being on the voter's list (29%).
  • Fewer than half of the associations report that the new voter identification requirements created an impediment to voting for their members, mostly related to the lack of proper identification or lack of awareness of the identification requirements.

Suggestions to aid Elections Canada's efforts in informing association members

  • No single suggestion was made by a large proportion of participating associations and about four in ten were unable to provide any suggestions. Providing more materials directed at students was the most common suggestion.