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Application of the New Voter Identification Procedures under Bill C-31 for the September 17 Federal By-elections in Quebec – Evaluation Synthesis


TRAINING OF ELECTION OFFICERS REGARDING NEW ID REQUIREMENTS

The fourth major aspect of the evaluation of the implementation of the Bill C-31 identification requirements during the September 17 by-elections in Quebec looked at the adequacy of the training of election officers to implement the Bill C-31 provisions.

This aspect of the evaluation is the one for which the least data exist. Only one question on the Createc+ Survey of Election Officers bore directly on this issue. Another question looked at the reporting requirements for deputy returning officers. The only other piece of relevant data is the minutes of a post-mortem meeting held with field liaison officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers and training officers in relation to the application of Bill C-31 in the by-elections, and this document is mostly silent on issues related to perceived adequacy of training.

Perceived adequacy of preparation for new identification requirements

More than six in ten election officers said they were very well trained in the new ID procedures and the post-mortem meeting did not reveal any specific problems impacting adequacy of preparation for the new requirements.

More than six in ten (63%) election officers felt they were very well trained for implementing the new identification requirements for electors, with an additional three in ten (31%) indicating that they were somewhat well trained. These findings did not vary by type of election officer.

Perceived adequacy of training
All election officers 2007

Perceived adequacy of training – All election officers 2007

The post-mortem meeting of election officers did not highlight any perceived inadequacies in the training provided. It noted that the training for deputy returning officers and poll clerks was about 30 minutes longer than normal and that there were “no major difficulties to report.” However, the post-mortem did note that these officers were not satisfied with the amount of pay they received for training.

The deputy returning officers had to complete a summary report (tally sheet) listing the pieces of identification used by electors. Nine in ten of these officers reported that this report was very easy (50%) or somewhat easy (39%) to prepare. No specific problems in completing this report were mentioned by even five percent of deputy returning officers.

More than nine in ten voters were satisfied with the election officers tasked with informing them of the new requirements and verifying their identification documents.

Overall, three-quarters (74%) of those who went to the polling station recalled being asked to prepare their identification documents prior to voting. Outremont voters were somewhat less likely (67%) to recall being asked to prepare their ID.

Well over nine in ten (95%) of those who went to the polling station expressed satisfaction with the election officers who asked for and verified voter identity prior to voting. A very high eight in ten (79%) were very satisfied. Outremont voters were somewhat less likely to say they were very satisfied (73%), but were no less likely to express overall satisfaction.

Satisfaction with elections officers who verified identity
All districts combined 2007

Satisfaction with elections officers who verified identity – All districts combined 2007