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Survey of Electors Following the40th General Election


III. Registration and Voter Information Card

Elections Canada sends every eligible elector whose name appears on the preliminary list of electors a voter information card. This personalized document contains information regarding where and when they can cast their ballots on election day or at the advance polls. It is an important aspect of the evaluation of the overall election process to ascertain the extent to which Canadians did, in fact, receive these personalized voter information cards prior to the date of the election and whether the information on the cards was accurate with respect to their name and address.

A. Voter Information Card

About nine-in-ten Canadians (89%) confirm receipt of a voter information card addressed to them personally and telling them where to go to vote. This result from the 40th general election is essentially unchanged from that found following an evaluation of the process and procedures for the 39th general election. Importantly, and with virtual unanimity, Canadians say that the name on the card they received was correct as was the address.

1. Receipt of Voter Information Card

Almost nine of every ten eligible voters (89%) say they received a voter information card that was addressed to them personally during the campaign period. Of the remainder, ten percent say they did not receive such a card and another one percent were uncertain or simply did not know in response to this question. These results are unchanged from those found following an evaluation of the previous general election in 2006.

Percentage who received a voter information card
Total
2006
Total
2008
Youth Aboriginal Immigrant/
Visible
minorities
n = 3,013 2,500 500 500 500
% % % % %
Yes 89 89 69 75 88
No 10 10 30 23 11
DK/NA/Ref 1 1 1 2 1

The proportion of those saying they received a voter information card is generally consistent and relatively high across the regions, ranging from 84 percent in Alberta to 91 percent in Quebec. There are no significant differences between voters residing in rural and those residing in urban areas with respect to receipt of the voter information card.

Men (89%) and women (90%) are equally likely to say they received a voter information card. However, some differences are apparent by age, education and occupation:

  • Younger voters, aged 18 to 34 years (81%), are somewhat less likely to say they received a voter information card compared to those aged 55 and older (94%);
  • Those with high school or less education (86%) are less likely than those with university degrees (94%) to report having received the card;
  • Those with lower levels of household income, under $20,000 (83%), are less likely to say they received a voter information card compared to all other income groups, among which at least 88 percent claim to have received a card; and,
  • Across occupational groups, students are the least likely to say they received a voter information card (66%), while those who are retired are the most likely (93%). This finding, not surprisingly, corresponds to the trend across age groups noted above and is likely a function of the greater geographic mobility of students and young Canadians.

Receipt of a personalized voter information card is demonstrably higher among those who say they voted in both of the last two general elections in 2008 and 2006. For those who voted in 2006, 93 percent say they received the card, compared to just 70 percent among those who did not vote that year. In 2008, similar results are apparent with 94 percent of those who voted in the 40th general election saying they received a voter information card, while among those who did not vote, just 76 percent recall receiving the card. Self-reported voting behaviour shows that among those who report not receiving a card, only 41 percent report voting, compared with 77 percent who report receiving a voter information card. Clearly receipt of the card is an important step in encouraging voting. Although it is difficult to ascertain cause and effect, it seems reasonable to assume that receipt of the voter information card is having at least some motivating or reminder effect with respect to getting people out to vote. However it is equally likely that at least some of those who did not vote may be less engaged in the political process and therefore less apt to recall receipt of the voter information card.

Among the youth oversample, defined as those aged 18 to 24 years, just 69 percent indicate they received a voter information card. While sample sizes across the regions are small, acknowledgement of receipt of the card ranges only minimally from 63 percent in Ontario to 72 percent in Atlantic Canada. In keeping with the general pattern of those who did/did not vote, almost eight-in-ten (79%) of youth who voted in 2008 say they received a card compared with just 53 percent of those who did not vote. This finding suggests that continued, or perhaps enhanced, efforts to draw young people's attention to the voter information card, or to ensure they receive their voter information card, may have some beneficial effects on voter turnout within that age group.

This year's results show a similar finding compared to 2006 among the Aboriginal community of voters in that 75 percent say they received a voter information card, up just slightly from 73 percent in 2006. The rate does vary from a low of 64 percent in Alberta to 83 percent in the Atlantic region. However, regional sample sizes for this sub-population are relatively small so no definitive conclusions should be drawn from these variations. Interestingly, younger Aboriginal voters, much like youth overall, are the least likely to indicate they received a voter information card. Among those aged 18 to 34 years, 59 percent say they received a card while the proportion jumps to 77 percent among those 35 to 44 years of age and is higher again at 85 percent among Aboriginal Canadians aged 55 and older.

Among the immigrant and visible minority's community, 88 percent indicate they received a voter information card. This proportion is fairly consistent across the regions. Unlike the general population, just slightly more men (90%) than women (86%) within the immigrant and visible minority's community say they received a card. The trend by age group is similar to the general trend for the population overall in that younger immigrant and visible minorities voters, aged 18 to 34 years (74%), are less likely to say they received a card compared to those 55 years and older (93%).

2. Accuracy of Voter Information Card

Virtually all those who report receiving a voter information card say that the information regarding name and address was accurate (97% for name; 98% for address) and these numbers are unchanged from the 2006 post-election results.

Accuracy of voter information card
Total
2006
Total
2008
Youth Aboriginal Immigrant/
Visible
minorities
n = 2,551 2,265 347 374 438
% % % % %
Was your name correct on the card you received?
Yes 97 97 98 97 98
No 2 2 1 2 2
DK/NA/Ref 1 1 1 2 <1
Was your address correct on the card you received?
Yes 98 97 97 97 99
No 2 2 2 2 1
DK/NA/Ref - 1 <1 2 <1

There are no significant variations in the degree of accuracy on voter information cards by region, gender, age, education or household income. Similarly, accuracy does not seem to have a bearing on whether the individual actually voted. This is not surprising, given that in almost all cases the information cards were deemed to be accurate.

Similar results were found among the Aboriginal community, among which 97 percent report their name was correct as was their address. Again, results among this sub-group do not vary substantially by region or by gender, age, household income or occupation.

Responses regarding the accuracy of name and address on the voter information card are equally consistent among visible minorities and immigrants with 98 percent saying the name on the card was correct and 99 percent saying the address on the card was correct. Findings do not vary significantly by region, gender, age, education or household income.

B. Correcting Voter Card Errors

Just under one-third (30%) of those who found errors in their voter information card did something to correct the inaccuracies.

This represents a decline from just under half of electors who took steps to correct inaccurate information in 2006. However for both years the sample sizes are very small and the differences are within the margin of error.

C. Recollection of Information Contained on the Voter Information Card

Among those who indicate that they received a voter information card, the vast majority recall that the card contained information on where to vote. Somewhat fewer also recall that the card provided information on when to vote, including hours or the time period during which polls were open.

Respondents who say they received a voter information card were asked what information the card provided. Most (75%) recall that the card indicated the location of the polling station where they could vote. Somewhat fewer, but still a significant number (47%), also recall that the card informed them of the hours during which polling stations were open. Fewer still (23%) recall information regarding the new voter ID requirements; including the necessity to show official identification at the polling station. Less than one-in-ten of those who say they received a voter information card recall something about advance polling, the number of the polling station, how to vote or what to do if the information on the card is incorrect.

Recall of information provided on the voter information card
Total
2008
Youth Aboriginal Immigrant/
Visible
minorities
n = 2,265 347 374 439
% % % %
Where to vote 75 63 54 71
When to vote/hours that you can vote/time of voting 47 43 34 49
Voter ID information/proof of name and address/cannot be used as ID 23 13 15 23
Advance poll information 12 7 4 11
Poll number/poll station number 4 3 2 2
My personal information/I am registered 2 3 1 2
How to vote/bring card/requirements to vote 5 5 7 7
Reminder to vote 1 2 3 4
What to do if information is incorrect/number to call for information 3 4 1 2
Other 4 4 5 4
DK/NA/Ref 9 14 16 11

When responses of self-reported voters and non-voters are compared, then it is also clear that voters are generally more aware of the details on the card. For example, among the general public 79 percent of voters and only 58 percent of non-voters are able to recall that the card indicated where to vote. The same gap is also apparent for the other groups surveyed, but among youth and Aboriginal Canadian voters, far fewer recall details of the card than among the public overall (70 percent of youth voters and 59 percent of Aboriginal voters are able to recall that information about where to vote was featured on the card).

Somewhat fewer among the youth oversample (13%) and Aboriginal communities (15%) recall that the voter information card contained information regarding the new voter ID requirements. Results among immigrants and visible minorities mirror the general population with about two-in-ten (23%) recalling this requirement from information provided on the voter information card.

D. Confirmation of Registration

Among those who did not receive a voter information card, half reported taking a variety of actions to find out if they were registered to vote.

Those who did not receive a personalized voter information card were queried as to whether they did anything to find out whether they were registered to vote and, if so, what specifically they did. About one-half (51%) did nothing specific. Other responses range from seeking clarification at the polling station or the local Elections Canada office (15%) to calling the 1‑800 number provided by Elections Canada (8%). Still fewer consulted the Elections Canada website (4%) or informed a revising agent (4%).

Steps taken to find out if registered
Total
2006*
Total
2008
Youth Aboriginal Immigrant/
Visible
minorities
n = 280 235 153 126 61
% % % % %
Found out at the polling station/local officer 29 15 20 14 12
Called 1‑800 number provided by Elections Canada 24 8 8 1 10
Went to/phoned government office/Elections Canada office 10 - 2 - 5
Consulted the Elections Canada website 9 4 5 1 2
Informed the revising agent who was at my home - 4 1 3 5
Asked someone (general) 2 4 1 2 2
Got a letter in the mail - 3 2 1 3
Family member arranged to correct/get info 2 3 7 3 3
Voted before/got one in previous election - 2 1 4 -
Was on the voter's card - 2 - 2 -
Called the telephone number on the voter's card 14 2 2 2 -
Other 8 7 6 10 7
I did nothing specific 68 51 46 61 56
DK/NA/Ref 2 1 4 2 3

Not surprisingly, taking action is strongly linked to voting. Among those voting in 2008, 17 percent report that they did nothing, compared with 74 percent among those who report not voting.

Results are similar among the youth oversample and immigrant and visible minorities, for whom 46 percent and 56 percent respectively did not do anything to follow up. A slightly higher proportion of Aboriginal Canadians indicate they did nothing to follow up (61%) as compared to the general population and other sub-groups.Footnote 1

E. Interest in Internet Registration

About six electors in ten indicate an interest in on-line registration or making corrections to voter information on-line.

Although voter registration on-line is not currently available for federal elections, a majority (58%) say they would be likely to access an Elections Canada website to register or make corrections to their voter information if they could do so. Interest levels in on-line registration are stable compared to 2006 (61%). Four-in-ten electors say they would be "very likely" to use such a system in future elections, while another 18 percent would be "somewhat likely." Just over one-third (35%) say they would be either "not likely at all" (23%) or "not very likely" (12%) to register on-line or make corrections via an Elections Canada website.

Likelihood of registering or making corrections to voter information on-line
Total
2006
Total
2008
Youth Aboriginal Immigrant/
Visible
minorities
n = 3,013 2,500 500 500 500
% % % % %
Net Likely 61 58 69 45 58
Very likely 41 40 44 25 43
Somewhat likely 20 18 25 19 15
Not very likely 9 12 17 15 13
Not at all likely 24 23 12 33 23
Net Not likely 33 35 29 48 36
Depends 1 <1 <1 <1 <1
Do not have access/do not use Internet 4 6 <1 6 6
DK/NA/Ref 1 <1 <1 1 1

The likelihood of using the Internet to register or correct information varies across the regions, from 49 percent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (combined), 54 percent in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, to 61 percent in B.C. and 62 percent in Ontario. Not surprisingly, given patterns of Internet usage, interest in using an on-line tool is higher in urban (62%) than it is in rural (46%) areas of Canada.

Variations are also evident across other sub-groups of the population. Men (61%) are somewhat more likely than women (55%) to indicate interest in using the Internet to register or correct voter information. And, again not surprisingly, interest declines with age, from 72 percent of those aged 18 to 34 years expressing some likelihood of using the Internet to 40 percent among those aged 55 years or older. As in 2006, interest in on-line voter registration increases with the level of educational attainment and with household income.

Among the youth oversample, 69 percent indicate a likelihood and 44 percent say they would be "very likely" to use the Internet to register or make corrections to voter information. Interest is highest in Quebec (75%) and, in keeping with patterns for the general population, interest is also just slightly higher among youth residing in urban (70%) versus rural (64%) parts of the country. Among this group, more women (74%) than men (65%) express some likelihood of registering on-line or making corrections via an Elections Canada website.

Aboriginal Canadians (45%) are substantially less likely, compared to the general population, to indicate an interest in using an on-line tool to register or correct voter information. About equal numbers (48%) say they would not be likely to do so. Indeed, fully one-third (33%) of Aboriginal Canadians say they would not be likely at all to use the Internet. However, interest among the Aboriginal group is higher for those aged 18 to 34 years (55%) as compared to those aged 55 years or older (33%). Similarly, in keeping with patterns found for the general population of Canadians overall, interest among Aboriginal people in using an on-line tool increases with the level of education and generally with household income as well, particularly for those with a household income of $40,000 or more.

Interest in registering on-line among those who identified themselves as an immigrant or a visible minority (58%) is no different from the general population of Canadians. In keeping with patterns found in the general population, within this sub-sample of immigrants and visible minorities, men (66%) are significantly more likely than women (52%) to say they would be likely to register or correct information on-line. Interest also declines with age, but is positively correlated to educational attainment and household income.

It is also noteworthy that non-voters among the public, youth and Aboriginal Canadians (55%, 64%, and 41%, respectively), report that they would be likely to use the Internet to register to vote if this service were available. This suggests that on-line registration might to some extent facilitate greater involvement in the voting process by making it easier to register to vote, for those who are currently less engaged.


Footnote 1 The base of those who indicate they did something to verify their eligibility to vote (n = 235) is too small to permit statistically reliable analysis by sub-groups. This is also true for the youth oversample (n = 153).