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Survey of Electors Following the40th General Election


XIV. Summary of Suggestions from Sub-Groups

A. Summary of Suggestions From Sub-Groups

The suggestions for encouraging greater participation in voting are rich and varied. The table below summarizes them.

Encouraging Canadian sub-groups to vote – Summary
Youth Elderly (65+ years) Aboriginal Immigrant/
Visible
minorities
Disabled
n = 500 537 500 500 176
% % % % %
Communication directed towards improving awareness (advertising) 15 6 9 16 (cultural based ads) 2
Discuss issues that are relevant 15 4 6 12 3
Provide transportation - 37 - - 26
Improving accessibility (vote from home, Internet, mail, phone) 3 - - 2 27
Improving electoral system/make it easier to vote/not have elections so often - 14 - - -
Meet with them/hold forums 10 3 - - -
Reach them via Internet/MSN/Facebook 9 - 11 - -
Better candidates/honest candidates 12 2 9 3 -
Facilitation/encouragement/incentives - - - 8 13
Make it mandatory/penalty for not voting/loss of citizenship 5 - 12 - -
Civic pride/duty/tell them it is their duty 4 2 4 10 -
Education in school/get involved at the school level 5 - 4 6 -
Translator/language barriers - - - 7 -

As noted throughout the analysis of this issue, a number of electoral process themes dominate. Building greater awareness of the need to vote and where and how to vote was frequently cited and in some ways this suggests a desire to "motivate" voters through enhanced communications. An enhanced role in schools also figures prominently and, for the elderly and disabled, transportation to the polling station. Finally, there are also suggestions for technological solutions and, especially for the young, on-line voting.