Survey of Candidates Following the 40th General Election

Survey Questionnaire (Phone Version)

Survey of Candidates Final Version – February 2, 2009

Introduction

Hello, my name is ________. I'm calling on behalf of Phoenix, a public opinion research company. We have been commissioned by Elections Canada to conduct a survey with candidates who ran in the October 2008 federal election. The purpose is to explore their experiences during the election, including their perceptions of the services provided by Elections Canada. This survey is registered with the national survey registration system.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Marc Mayrand [pronounce: MAY-RAN] recently sent a letter to each candidate about this initiative.

1. May I please speak with__________________? (If speaking with candidate, continue)

   Yes	1 (Repeat intro if new person)
   No	2 (Skip to paragraphs c/d)

2. Your participation in the survey is voluntary and all responses will be kept strictly confidential – no individuals or organizations will be identified in any way. Are you willing to take part? We can do it now or at a time more convenient for you.

   Yes, now	1 (Proceed with survey)
   Yes, call later	2 (Specify date/time)
   Refused	3 (Paragraphs c/d)*

   
   *Include c only if the respondent seem to question the validity of this project, otherwise go directly to d
3. May I re-send you the letter sent by Elections Canada that provides background information about this study? I can send this by email or fax.

   Yes	1 (Get fax/email address)
   No	2 (Thank/discontinue)

4. If more convenient, we could send the survey by email or fax with instructions for completing it and returning it to Phoenix. Or, the survey could also be completed online. In this case, we would send you an email with a password and link to the questionnaire. Or, I can give you a 1‑800 number that can be called to schedule an interview at your convenience. Which would you prefer?

   Request for fax/email version of survey	1 (Get fax/email address)
   Request for online survey	2 (Get email address)
   Request for 1‑800 number	3 (Provide 1‑800 number)
   Refused	4 (Thank/discontinue)

Part I: Overall Perceptions of Election

To begin, I'd like to ask you some general questions about the recent federal election.

1. Overall, how satisfied were you with the way the federal election was administered by Elections Canada? Please use a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very dissatisfied, '5' is very satisfied, and '3' is neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
2. And how satisfied were you with the way the returning officer ran it in your riding? Please use the same 5‑point scale, where '1' is very dissatisfied, '5' is very satisfied, and '3' is neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

Part II: Experience with Electoral Process

Nomination Requirements

I'd now like to ask you some questions about your experience during the recent federal election with the nomination process.

3. How easy was it to comply with the nomination requirements? Would you say this was very easy, moderately easy, not very easy or not easy at all?

If 'not very/not at all easy', ask:

4. Why was this not easy? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
   • 
     Difficult to get required number of signatures
   • Difficult to get $1000 deposit
   • Difficult to meet the deadline
   • Difficult to appoint official agent
   • Returning officer difficult to deal with
   • Other, specify: ____________________
5. In your view, did the returning officer process your nomination in a timely fashion?
   • Yes
   • No
6. How easy was it for you to appoint an official agent? Would you say this was very easy, moderately easy, not very easy or not easy at all?

If 'not very/not at all easy', ask:

7. Why was this not easy? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
   
   • 
     Difficult to find someone qualified
   • Time frame too short
   • Other, specify: ____________________
8. During the campaign, Elections Canada held information sessions on the financial requirements for candidates and official agents. Did...? Read list. Accept one response
   • 
     You personally attend
   • Your official agent attend
   • Your campaign manager attend
   • You and a representative attend, or
   • No one attended?
   • Other, specify:________________

Registration, Voting and Counting Processes

I'd now like to ask you some questions about your experience during the election with the registration, voting and counting processes.

9. Overall, how satisfied were you with the way elector registration went? Please use a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very Dissatisfied, and '5' is very satisfied.

If 'not satisfied (scores of 1‑2)', ask:

10. Why were you not satisfied with this? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • Genuine voters were turned away due to the new ID requirements
    • Not enough opportunities for electors to register
    • Registration process too complicated
    • Not enough revising agents
    • Not enough registration officers at the polls
    • Electors not aware of registration process/options
    • Voters lists contained too many errors/too many electors had to register
    • Revision ineffective; return to door-to-door enumeration system
    • Other, specify: ____________________
11. Please indicate your level of satisfaction with each of the following, using a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very Dissatisfied, and '5' is very satisfied. How about...? Read/randomize list

    	1	2	3	4	5	It depends (11a only)*
    a) The way the various options for electors to cast a ballot went**.
    b) The locations chosen as polling stations for the advance polls and on election day.
    c) The way the vote counting proceeded in your riding.

    *Note: at Q11A, candidate may have different views about some of the options available for voting and therefore be unsure of an overall rating. In this case, select 'it depends'.

    **NOTE: If candidate asks what the options are, say 'this includes voting on election day, at advance polls, by mail or in person at a local Elections Canada office"

    If 'not satisfied (scores of 1‑2)' for any of the above or if selected 'it depends for Q11A, ask:

12. Why were you not satisfied with this? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses) [Each sub-question should be inserted Right After items 11 A-C only if answer is 1 or 2]

12 a) List of options:

• Voter line-up/excessive waiting time
• Problems with voting at the advance polls
• Problems with voting on election day
• Problems with voting at office of returning officer (local Elections Canada office)
• Problems with voting by mail
• Electors were not aware of the new voter ID requirements
• Problems with the "Statement of the electors who have voted on polling day" (also called the "bingo card")
• Other/specify: ____________________

12 b) List of options:

• Advance polling stations hard to find
• Polling stations on election day hard to find
• Problems related to space in advance polling stations
• Problems related to space in polling stations on polling day
• Not enough advance polling stations
• Not enough polling stations on polling day
• Problems related to accessibility of advance polling stations
• Problems related to accessibility of polling stations on polling day
• Other/specify: ____________________

12 c) List of options:

• Counting was tampered; there were interference in the process
• Election materials tampered (seals on ballot boxes, etc.)
• Lack of security or supervision
• Other/specify: ____________________

Voter Identification

13. Did you or your representatives witness any problems related to the implementation of the new voter identification requirements?
    • Yes 1
    • No 2 (Skip next question)

If 'Yes', ask next question:

14. What problems did you witness? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • 
      Voters not having proper identification/not able to vote
    • Long line ups due to identification requirements
    • Problems proving their identity
    • Problems proving their address
    • Uneven interpretation of the rules by election officers
    • Other, specify: ____________________
15. In accordance with the Canada Elections Act, the Chief Electoral Officer established a list of acceptable pieces of identification. What do you think, if anything, about this list? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • List is too detailed
    • List is not exhaustive
    • List is difficult to understand; difficult to remember which IDs are valid
    • List does not reflect local situations / inconsistent with IDs available locally
    • Did not see list / not aware of list
    • Other, specify: ____________________

Appointment & Training of Election Staff

Only ask next question if candidate came first or second in previous election – Use field from sample list to determine (n=616)

Focusing now on the appointment of election staff,

16. What problems or challenges, if any, did you encounter in providing to the returning officer a list of names to be appointed as revising agents, deputy returning officers and poll clerks? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • 
      Not enough time to find people
    • Unable to find people interested/available
    • Unable to find competent people
    • List was provided too late/not allowed
    • Some people on list not eligible/not allowed/disqualified
    • None/no problems
    • Did not prepare such a list/ returning officer did not request such a list
    • Other, specify: ____________________

Part III: Services and Products Provided

I'd now like to ask you some questions about the services and products provided by Elections Canada during the election.

17. Overall, how satisfied were you with your interactions with the returning officer? Please use a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very Dissatisfied, and '5' is very satisfied. (Accept 'does not apply' if candidate had no interactions with returning officer)
18. Did you or your representative attend the “all candidates briefing” organized by the returning officer? Did…? (Read list. Accept one response)
    • 
      You personally attend 1
    • Your official agent attend 2
    • Your campaign manager attend 3
    • You and a representative attend, or 4
    • No one attended 6 (Skip next question)
    • Other, specify:_______________________ 5

If respondent or representative attended the briefing, ask:

19. Did you or your representative find the "all candidates briefing" to be very useful, moderately useful, not very useful or not useful at all?
20. During the election, did you, your campaign manager or your official agent use any of the following services to find information? (Read/rotate list. Accept all that apply)
    • 
      The local Elections Canada office
    • Elections Canada's 1‑800 support line for candidates
    • Elections Canada's website (www.elections.ca)

If respondent used any of the services in Q 20, ask next two questions:

21. What was the purpose of your information request(s)? Any other reasons? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • 
      Nomination requirements
    • Spending limits
    • Contribution limits
    • Reporting – electoral campaign return
    • Election advertising
    • Voters' lists,
    • Registration of electors
    • Methods of voting
    • Voter identification requirements/list of IDs
    • Clarification on provisions of the Act
    • Availability of election materials (maps, etc.)
    • Election results/judicial recounts
    • Other, specify: ____________________
22. Overall, how satisfied were you with the information you obtained? Please use a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very Dissatisfied, and '5' is very satisfied.

Ask everyone:

23. I'm going to read a list of documents. For each one, please tell me if you remember having received it from your returning officer. How about...? (Read/randomize items)
    
    

    	Yes	No	Not Sure
    a) A copy of the Canada Elections Act.
    b) The Multimedia Kit for Federal Political Entities.
    c) The Guidelines for Candidates' Representatives.
    d) The authorisation forms related to the appointment of representatives.
    e) The voters' lists.

For the following questions, we refer to you personally, but they could also include anyone from your campaign team if you had one.

24. Elections Canada made available on its Website a letter signed by the Chief Electoral Officer to facilitate access to public places by candidates and/or their campaign workers. Did you use this letter?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Volunteered: Was not aware of letter
25. Maps of polling divisions were available in two different formats... paper and CD-ROM. Which format did you use the most, if any?
    • Paper
    • CD-ROM
    • Volunteered:
      • Used both
      • Used neither
26. Elections Canada also provided candidates with a Web mapping tool called "GeoExplore" that allows the user to locate civic addresses, streets, municipalities, electoral districts and other similar information. Did you use this tool?
    
    

    Yes	1 (Skip next question)
    No	2
    Volunteered: Was not aware of this tool

    If 'No' or not aware of tool, ask:

27. Although you did not use GeoExplore for this election, would you be interested in using this Web mapping tool for future elections?

    Yes	1
    No	2
    Accept if volunteered: 'Do not plan on running again'

28. During the election, candidates were provided with various voters' lists, including the preliminary lists of electors, the revised lists, and the official lists. Did you use any of these lists?
    
    

    Yes	1
    No	2 (Skip next question)

    If 'Yes', ask:

29. What did you use the lists for? Anything else? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • 
      Calling electors to encourage them to vote / offer transportation, etc.
    • Data matching
    • Mail-outs
    • Other, specify: ____________________
30. Elections Canada provided information about the quality of the preliminary lists. Would you say the information was very adequate, moderately adequate, not very adequate or not adequate at all? (Accept If Volunteered: 'Did not receive this information from returning officer)
31. How satisfied were you with the overall quality of the voters' lists provided by the returning officer? Please use a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very Dissatisfied, and '5' is very satisfied.
32. Did you take any measures to ensure the protection of personal information contained in the voters' lists that you received?

    Yes	1
    No	2 (Skip next question)
    DK	9 (Skip next question)

    If 'Yes', ask:

33. What measures did you take? Anything else? (Do NOT read. Accept up to three responses)
    • 
      Issued instructions regarding use of voters' lists
    • Issued procedures to collect copies of voters' lists back after event
    • Ensured their destruction at end of the election
    • Brought them back to returning officer
    • Other/specify: _____________
34. At advance polls and on polling day, a "Statement of the electors who have voted on polling day", also called the "bingo card",* was made available to candidates and their representatives. How useful did you find this new tool? Please rate your answer using a 5‑point scale, where '1' is not useful at all, and '5' is very useful. If you do not recall such a tool or did not use it, please indicate this (Note: Record as "Not Applicable").
    
    *If asked, read: This refers to the new form used to record the identifier number of electors who came to vote that was provided to the candidates or their representatives on a regular basis.
35. All things considered, how satisfied were you with the overall quality of service you received from Elections Canada in the most recent federal election? Please use a 5‑point scale, where '1' is very Dissatisfied, and '5' is very satisfied.

Part IV: Related Issues

Turning to online technology and voter participation,

36. Do you think that electors should be able to register online?
    • Yes
    • No
37. Do you think that electors should be able to vote online?
    • Yes
    • No
38. What would you suggest, if anything, to improve the conduct of federal elections? (Accept up to three suggestions)
    
    

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Part V: Socio-demographic Profile

I have two last questions for background and statistical purposes only.

39. In what year were you born?

    Record year: ______

40. Including the October 2008 election, how many times have you run as a candidate at the federal level? (Accept absolute number only, not a range. If asked, include federal general elections and by-elections)

    Record number of times as candidate: _____________

This concludes the survey. If you wish, we can send you a summary of the results once the study is completed.

• If interested: In this case, could you provide us an e-mail address where to send it?
  Email Address: ________________________
  
  
• No email address: Would you like it sent by fax?
• If interested: What is your fax number?
  Fax Number:__________________________
  
  
• If no email and no fax number: Elections Canada will publish a report on its Website once completed. You will be able to access the summary there.
  
  
• If asked: Their Website address is www.elections.ca.
• If asked: Elections Canada did not indicate when the results would be published.
  
  
• Should a paper hardcopy be requested: We can do this if you provide the address where you want this to be shipped.
  
  Address:__________________________ (MPs may answer "On the Hill, to the House of Commons, to the Ottawa office, etc. in which case only their name will be needed.)

Thank you for your time and feedback.

Do 'NOT' ask – pre-coded

• Language of interview
• Province/territory
• Gender
• Elected at the 40th election: Yes/No
• Arrived 1st or 2nd in 39th general election: Yes/No (used to filter question on the list of prospects to be appointed as election officers – Q16 – this variable is not needed for the final database provided to the client)
• Political affiliation
  • Party represented in the House of Commons (PC, Lib, NPD, BQ)
  • Other political parties
  • No party affiliation/Independent candidates

Background Letter

Interviewer Briefing Note

Project Background

Elections Canada is conducting a survey of candidates that ran in the 40th Federal General Election (i.e. the last election, held October 14, 2008). The agency conducts post-election research after each general election. The current research is a census survey, in which all candidates will be contacted. Elections Canada would like feedback from candidates in terms of their satisfaction with the administration of the election, and their perceptions of related issues. Ultimately, the objective of the survey is to help Elections Canada to improve its services for future elections.

This research is being positioned as an engagement exercise with candidates to improve Elections Canada's performance. This language is appropriate when discussing the research with candidates.

General Issues

Notification Letter

When calling commences, candidates will have already received a notification letter from Marc Mayrand, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. The letter (appended to this note) encourages candidates to participate and notifies them that they will be contacted for the research. It can be accessed on-line at www.elections.ca/candidate/.

Need for High Response Rate

A very high response rate has been targeted for this survey. Accordingly, efforts need to be made at every step of the research process to maximize buy-in and the response rate. In this vein, up to 10 call-backs are to be attempted for each record before it is retired. After three attempts, interviewers are to leave a voice message, referencing the background letter and providing a 1‑800 number for candidates to use to schedule an interview.

It is possible that you will encounter phone numbers that are no longer available or out of service. Please record this information and bring it to the supervisor's attention. There are multiple numbers available for some candidates, and a process in place to determine which ones should be used first. The numbers are a mix of work, home and cell phone numbers. So, sometimes there will likely be gatekeepers (i.e. receptionists, admin assistants, etc.), while other times there will not.

In total, 99 candidate records have cell phone numbers, with 51 having only cell phones. When contact is made with these candidates by cell phone, offer the following options: 1) complete the interview by cell phone at that time (as long as there are no safety issues – e.g. cannot conduct the interview with someone driving) or schedule another time, 2) give them the 1‑800 number to call to complete the survey at a convenient time, or 3) ask for a landline number and time that the candidate can be called back.

Gatekeepers

It is expected that in some cases you will not be able to reach the candidate directly at first. Many of these individuals are very senior level people and will be attended by aides, assistants, administrators, or others. In some cases, these individuals will be able to schedule an interview time. That said, it some cases it will be necessary to speak with the candidate personally to schedule one. Gatekeepers will ask you about the reasons for your call, so please refer to the advance letter sent to the candidate, in addition to the intro language in the questionnaire itself.

Who Should Complete the Survey?

This is a survey of candidates on issues related specifically to them. So, every effort should be made to get the candidates themselves to complete the survey. No proxy respondents can be accepted.

Survey Completion Options and Treatment of Refusals

The primary method of data collection will be telephone interviewing, but this will be augmented by other methods. The questionnaire script you will use when contacting candidates by phone will, as is normally done, ask you to invite them to complete the survey at that time or schedule a time that is more convenient.

Candidates that initially refuse are to be told that their feedback is extremely valuable and offered the opportunity to complete the survey online or via fax/e-mail/mail if that is more convenient for them. If either of these is selected, the questionnaire script will ask you to collect appropriate contact information. Please ensure this is accurate by repeating it back to them.

Sample

The sample contains 1600 candidates. This is the full population of candidates from the last election^{Footnote 15}. As noted, candidates will have an office, home, or cellular number, all three numbers, or a combination of two.

Focus on Recent Federal Election

The focus of this survey is on the most recent federal election, held on October 14, 2008. It is not on any other election. This should be reiterated to respondents, as needed (i.e. the focus is not on any previous elections the candidate may have run in).

Respondents' Report

As a token of appreciation, respondents will be sent by email a copy of the research highlights at the completion of the study. Identify this if useful to secure agreement to participate.

Q&A Note

Appended to this note is a Q&A document that provides additional background information on the project.

Potentially-Sensitive Issues

Lawsuit Regarding Election Advertising

At this time, the Conservative Party of Canada is suing Elections Canada over an investigation into their election advertising expenditures during the previous (39th) federal general election, and an investigation by the Commissioner of Canada Elections is ongoing. The issue relates directly to the interpretation of rules governing the financial relationships between local candidates and the national party. It is possible that there might be some resistance to participating in this research among some Conservative Party candidates. Be sensitive to this, and re-enforce that Phoenix is an independent contractor, that the research is conducted in accordance with privacy laws designed to protect respondents' privacy, and that they will not be personally linked to any information provided. If useful, it could also be mentioned that no questions pertain to advertising expenditures.

Source of Candidate Contact information

Candidates may ask how their contact information was obtained. You may inform them that Elections Canada provided this information to Phoenix, based on information contained in the nomination paper submitted to the returning officer.

For any other inquiries or matter exceeding the scope of this survey, refer to Elections Canada's 1‑800‑463‑6868 toll free line.

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Return to source of ^{Footnote 15} Would have been 1601, but one candidate has died since.

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