Report on the Evaluations of the 41st General Election of May 2, 2011
Appendix 3: Public Opinion Surveys – Comparative Highlights (2008–2011)
3.1 Survey of Electors
2008
2011
Methodology
Sample size
2,501*
3,570
Margin of error at 95% confidence level
±2.0%
±1.6%
Fieldwork
Oct.–Nov.
May–June
Awareness and Interest
2008%
2011%
Were aware of the general election
N/A
98
Main sources of information about the election:
Television
N/A
81
Newspaper
N/A
50
Radio
N/A
42
Followed the campaign closely
69
74
Electoral Participation
2008%
2011%
Declared to have voted
73
84
Found it easy to vote
99
99
Reasons for voting:
Political reasons
28
24
Duty to vote
64
41
Reasons for not voting:
Everyday life issues
57
60
Political issues
36
30
Administrative or electoral process issues
8
6
Would have voted had it been possible to do so online (non-voters)
N/A
57
Information and Advertising
2008%
2011%
Received their voter information card (VIC)
89
91
Main sources of information about voting procedures:
VIC
61
66
Television
19
12
Newspaper
18
11
Recalled receiving the Elections Canada brochure
48
34
Recalled the Elections Canada slogan
15
15
Recalled at least one Elections Canada newspaper/radio/television ad about the election
79
N/A
Noticed an Elections Canada ad about the general election
N/A
40
Accessibility and Suitability of the Building
2008%
2011%
Found it easy to reach the polling station
98
98
Found there were enough directional signs outside
N/A
82
Found there were enough directional signs inside
N/A
95
Recalled a poster indicating wheelchair access
N/A
33
Found the building accessible
N/A
98
Had requested special assistance to cast their ballot
N/A
1
Voting
2008%
2011%
Satisfaction with:
Wait time at the polling station
96
97
Distance to the polling station
96
97
Language in which served at the polling station
99
99
Services provided by election officers
98
98
Voter ID
2008%
2011%
Aware of proof of ID before going to vote
94
97
Aware of proof of address before going to vote
85
89
Main sources of information about voter ID requirements:
VIC
27
41
Experience or prior knowledge
6
36
Television
32
15
Had a positive attitude toward ID requirements
94
96
Had a positive attitude toward proof of address
88
91
Had proper ID documents at the polls
98
99
Found it easy to comply with voter ID requirements
98
97
Most common ID documents used:
Driver's licence
90
90
Health card
18
16
VIC
3
14**
Fairness
2008%
2011%
Had a high degree of trust in the accuracy of the election results in the riding
N/A
87
Agreed that "Elections Canada ran the election in a fair manner"
N/A
90
*National results did not include oversamples of 500 youth and 500 Aboriginal electors in 2008, while they did in 2011 (with proper weighting).
**Acceptance of the VIC as ID in some locations in 2011 does not explain the increase from 2008.
N/A: Question not asked in 2008 or 2011.
2. Survey of Candidates
2008
2011
Methodology
Number of respondents
877
1,008
Fieldwork
Jan.–Feb.
May–June
Response rate
59%
67%
Perception of Elections Canada
2008%
2011%
Satisfied with the overall quality of service received from Elections Canada
79
81
Satisfied with the way the election was administered by Elections Canada
68
72
Satisfied with how the returning officer ran the election locally
79
81
Satisfied with interactions with the returning officer
85
86
Nomination Process and Staff Appointment
2008%
2011%
Thought their nomination had been processed in a timely fashion
96
97
Found it easy to comply with the nomination requirements
79
81
Did not find it easy to comply with the nomination requirements
20
17
Had difficulty obtaining the required number of signatures
54
60
Found there was too much paperwork or bureaucracy
11
26
Had difficulty appointing an official agent
21
18
Did not have problems submitting names for election staff appointees
49
63
Elections Canada Products and Services
2008%
2011%
Satisfied with overall quality of services received from Elections Canada
79
81
Attended all-candidates' briefing
75
74
In-person candidate attendance
47
37
Used Elections Canada's information services:
Website
82
84
Local office
82
82
1-800 support line
48
42
Satisfied with the information obtained
79
83
Recalled receiving the following from the returning officer:
Lists of electors
93
92
Authorization forms for representative appointments
86
85
Guidelines for candidates' representatives
83
84
Copy of the Canada Elections Act
81
74
Multimedia Kit for Federal Political Entities
67
70
Indicated having used the following election materials:
Lists of electors
68
64
Polling division maps
85
81
Statement of the electors who voted on polling day
67
49
Chief Electoral Officer letter to facilitate access to public places
40
45
GeoExplore
19
23
Perceived information regarding quality of the lists of electors to be adequate
61
64
Satisfied with the overall quality of the lists of electors
55
58
Registration, Voting and Vote Counting
2008%
2011%
Expressed satisfaction with the elector registration process
54
59
Thought electors should be able to register using the Internet
75
74
Thought electors should be able to vote using the Internet
46
51
Satisfied with the various options for casting a ballot
68
65
Did not have any problem to report about voter ID
61
72
Satisfied with the list of authorized ID documents
54
71
Satisfied with the way the vote counting proceeded
66
69
Satisfied with the locations chosen as polling stations
67
67
Accessibility
2008%
2011%
Satisfied with the number of signs inside the building
N/A
80
Satisfied with the number of signs outside the building
N/A
65
Satisfied with the number of signs indicating level access