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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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 % %
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 N/A 50

N/A: Question not asked in 2008.

3. Survey of Election OfficersFootnote 20

2008 2011
Methodology
Sample size 3,115 3,213
Margin of error at 95% confidence level ±1.8% ±1.7%
Fieldwork Jan.–Feb. June–July
Working Conditions % %
Satisfied with their hourly rate of pay 81 78
Satisfied with the time it took to receive their paycheque 96 96
Training % %
Satisfied with the training session 86 83
Felt well prepared to undertake their tasks 92 89
Felt well trained and prepared regarding voter ID requirements 95 96
Election Materials % %
Satisfied with the election materials 89 90
Satisfied with the list of electors (DROs only) 90 93
Suitability of the Building % %
Found their building suitable for holding an election 86 89
Reported wheelchair accessibility (CPSs only) N/A 93
Voting Operations and ID Requirements % %
Reported that polling station opened on time 98 99
Found the flow of electors fairly or very smooth 94 95
Had no problem providing services in electors' language (CPSs/IOs) 95 96
Said voter ID proceedings went well 95 97
Believed ID requirements affected voting time 56 41
Found electors generally well prepared with ID (DROs only) 86 88
Encountered specific problems verifying voter identity 16 15
Encountered specific problems verifying voter address 19 20
Found electors reacted favourably to ID requirements (DROs only) 79 83
Found it easy to use the Statement of the electors who voted on polling day 83 84
Complaints About Accessibility % %
Did not witness any complaints about accessibility N/A 89
Common issues leading to accessibility complaints:
Lack of accessibility for those with reduced mobility N/A 16
Poor signage and lack of indication N/A 13
Long lineups N/A 8
Vote Counting and Closing % %
Found that the vote counting went well (DROs/CPSs) 95 94
Main reasons why vote counting did not go well (DROs/CPSs):
Lack of competence of their partners 30 32
Unclear instructions and inadequate training 19 24
Tally did not balance 14 20
Took too much time 23 17
Found the flow chart on how to close the polls useful (DROs only) 95 92
Suggestions for Improvement % %
Improve training 16 13
Hire more competent election officers 4 3
Simplify ID requirements/VIC 6 4

N/A: Question not asked in 2008.


Footnote 20 Deputy returning officers, central poll supervisors and information officers.