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Survey of Electors Following the April 3, 2017, By-elections in Calgary Heritage (Alberta), Calgary Midnapore (Alberta), Markham–Thornhill, (Ontario), Ottawa–Vanier (Ontario) and Saint-Laurent (Quebec)

VI. Fairness

Perceptions of Elections Canada's Fairness

Most electors aware of the April 3, 2017, by-election felt Elections Canada ran the election very (63%) or somewhat (21%) fairly.

  • Voters in the ridings of Saint-Laurent (49%) and Markham–Thornhill (57%) were less likely than voters from the other ridings to say the election was run very fairly.
  • In addition, the likelihood of saying Elections Canada ran the election very fairly increased with age (from 39% of those under 25 to 71% of those age 55 and older) and was higher among men (67%), English-speakers (67% vs. 57% of Allophones and 51% of French-speakers) and those who voted in the 2015 federal general election (65% vs. 41% of those who did not vote).

Perceptions of Elections Canada's Fairness

Text description of "Perceptions of Elections Canada's Fairness"

Q35. Thinking about the April 3, 2017, federal by-election, would you say that Elections Canada ran the election...?
Base: n=1,876; those aware of the by-election.

Trust in Accuracy of Results

Most electors aware of the by-election said they trust the accuracy of the election results in their riding. Fully 64% said they have a very high level of trust and 27% said their level of trust is somewhat high.

  • Trust was lower in the ridings of Saint-Laurent and Markham–Thornhill—voters in these ridings were less likely to say they have very high trust (56% and 57%, respectively).
  • The likelihood of saying they have very high trust increased with age, from 43% of electors under 25 to 71% of electors age 55 and older, and with education, from 49% of those with a high school education to 73% of university graduates.
  • Allophones (53%) were less likely than English-speakers (66%) to have very high trust in the accuracy of the results.
  • Those who voted in the 2015 federal general election were more likely than those who did not vote to have very high trust (66% vs. 42%).

Trust in Accuracy of Results

Text description of "Trust in Accuracy of Results"

Q36. What level of trust do you have in the accuracy of the election results in your riding? Is it…?
Base: n=1,876; those aware of the by-election. Dk/nr: 3%