Site Menu2015 National Youth Survey
Detailed Findings
This section of the report is divided into three broad areas, broken down into subsections. The first section presents an overview of participation in the October 2015 election as well as other elections. The second section provides a discussion of perceived access barriers, and the third section discusses motivational factors or barriers.
1. Participation in the October 2015 General Election
Before understanding motivations and barriers to participating in elections, the survey captured reported voter behaviour in the most recent election as well as in previous elections.
A. Current and past voting behaviour
To begin, reported voter behaviour in the 2015 election was higher than the actual voter turnout, which, according to Elections Canada, was 68.3%. Footnote 1 As Chart 1 shows, 70% of youth and 91% of older adults reported to have voted in the October 19th federal election. This is typical when researching voter behaviour as social desirability comes into play, meaning that respondents may sometimes give what they think is the "right" answer instead of reporting their true behaviour. It is also common that those who are more likely to vote are also more likely to complete survey research.
Chart 1: Voting Behaviour
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 70% | 64% | 77% | 66% | 91% | 67% | 70% | 68% | 67% | 45% |
| No | 28% | 33% | 22% | 32% | 9% | 31% | 30% | 29% | 29% | 51% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 1% | 2% | 1% | <1% | 0% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
When looking at the youth group at a more granular level, there are some differences in reported voting behaviour within the 18–34 cohort. Specifically, those between the ages of 18 and 22 (64%) and those between 30 and 34 years of age (66%) are less likely to say they voted in the election.
Reported electoral participation varies by target audience, as Chart 1 demonstrates. The Aboriginal youth subgroup has the highest reported voter participation, whereas unemployed eligible youth voters are the least likely to say they voted in the most recent federal election (70% vs. 45%).
There are no significant differences in reported voter behaviour across region and gender.
When considering all elections (federal, provincial and municipal) for which electors have been eligible, reported participation is lower among those in the youth group in comparison to the older adult group (Chart 2). Indeed, 39% of youth report having voted in all past elections for which they were eligible, compared to 59% of older adults. Within the youth group, those 18 to 22 are most likely to report having voted in all past elections for which they were eligible, while those aged 30 to 34 are least likely. Among the youth subgroups, Aboriginal youth and unemployed youth are least likely to have voted in past elections for which they were eligible.
Chart 2: Past Participation by Age, Target Audience and Most Recent Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All of them | 39% | 44% | 41% | 34% | 59% | 39% | 28% | 39% | 34% | 22% | 55% | 3% |
| Most of them | 22% | 15% | 23% | 28% | 28% | 23% | 20% | 22% | 19% | 18% | 25% | 15% |
| Some of them | 21% | 16% | 24% | 23% | 10% | 19% | 29% | 18% | 27% | 26% | 18% | 29% |
| None of them | 14% | 19% | 11% | 12% | 3% | 15% | 18% | 16% | 17% | 26% | 1% | 47% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 2% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 4% | <1% | 5% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | <1% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Regionally, nearly half of youth in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Prairies claim to have voted in all eligible elections, whereas youth in other regions are less likely to make this claim (Chart 3). Male youth are more likely to say they have voted in all or most elections that they have been eligible for compared to female youth (64% vs. 59%).
Chart 3: Past Participation by Region
| Youth | Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairies | Alberta | BC/Territories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All of them | 39% | 47% | 47% | 36% | 43% | 32% | 38% |
| Most of them | 22% | 25% | 25% | 20% | 16% | 28% | 21% |
| Some of them | 21% | 16% | 16% | 24% | 24% | 20% | 24% |
| None of them | 14% | 9% | 8% | 17% | 15% | 17% | 13% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Youth without children are more likely than those with children to say they have voted in all the elections they have been eligible for. There are also some differences by country of birth: youth who were born in Canada are more likely to say that they voted in all or most elections for which they were eligible (64% vs. 48%).
Analysis reveals that there is a small group of voters who say they voted in the 2015 election, but generally vote only some of the time (Chart 2). In fact, 18% of those who voted in this election say they voted only in some of the elections that they were eligible to vote in. On the flip side, 47% of those who did not vote in this election say they have not voted in any other elections.
B. Method Used to Vote
Just over two thirds of those who voted did so on election day (Chart 4). Indeed, 69% of youth say they voted on October 19, and these findings are consistent with those of the 35+ group. Those under the age of 35 display some differences in their ways of voting: those between 18 and 22 are most likely to say they voted at the advance polls in comparison to others and the least likely to have voted on election day. Footnote 2
Approximately one in four voters say they voted in the advance polls, and very few voted by mail or at their local Elections Canada office. There are a few differences in using advance polls by demographics. Ethnocultural youth are more likely than others to say they voted in advance. Meanwhile, those with children are more likely to say they voted on election day than those without children (78% vs. 67%).
Chart 4: How Voters Cast Their Ballot
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polling station on election day | 69% | 60% | 73% | 70% | 67% | 72% | 73% | 67% | 63% | 68% |
| By mail | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | <1% | 2% | 2% | <1% | 1% | 0% |
| Advance polling station | 25% | 32% | 21% | 24% | 26% | 22% | 23% | 25% | 31% | 16% |
| Local Elections Canada office | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 11% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Prefer not to say | <1% | <1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | <1% | 2% |
Base: All voters (n=2,178).
C. Use of Elections Canada's Online Voter Registration Service
As Chart 5 shows, use of the online voter registration service was much higher among youth than older adults (28% vs. 12%). There is some variation in use of the online service by youth demographic subgroups. Use was highest among Aboriginal youth and youth with a disability and lowest among unemployed youth. Youth in Quebec (18%) are the least likely to have used the online voter registration service (Chart 6). No differences exist by gender in use of this online service.
Chart 5: Use of Online Voter Registration Service by Age, Target Audience and Recent Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 28% | 30% | 29% | 24% | 12% | 24% | 34% | 34% | 31% | 20% | 35% | 11% |
| No | 69% | 64% | 69% | 74% | 87% | 71% | 62% | 59% | 64% | 77% | 63% | 86% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 3% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | <1% | 0% | 1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Chart 6: Use of Online Voter Registration Service by Region
| Youth | Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairies | Alberta | BC/Territories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 28% | 36% | 18% | 27% | 36% | 26% | 40% |
| No | 69% | 61% | 80% | 69% | 61% | 70% | 56% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 3% | 2% | 1% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 2% | 1% | <1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
2. Access Factors and Barriers
A. Recall of Voter Information Card
While nearly all of the older adults (94%) recall receiving the voter information card (VIC) in the mail from Elections Canada, only 76% of youth do so (Chart 7). Those between 18 and 22 are the least likely to recall receiving the card, and this may be related to the fact that this was the first election for which they would have been eligible. As well, voters are much more likely to recall receiving the VIC than those who did not vote.
Chart 7: Recall Receiving Voter Information Card
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 76% | 69% | 77% | 82% | 94% | 75% | 66% | 70% | 73% | 67% | 86% | 54% |
| No | 19% | 24% | 20% | 14% | 5% | 20% | 30% | 21% | 22% | 30% | 13% | 37% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 4% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 10% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 8% |
| Prefer not to say | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 2% | <1% | <1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Additionally, recall of receiving the VIC is lower among the Aboriginal and unemployed youth surveyed. When looking at region, recall of the VIC is highest among youth in Quebec, at 84% (Chart 8).
Chart 8: Recall of Voter Information Card by Region
| Youth | Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairies | Alberta | BC/Territories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 76% | 77% | 84% | 73% | 79% | 75% | 73% |
| No | 19% | 18% | 13% | 22% | 17% | 23% | 22% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 5% |
| Prefer not to say | <1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 0% | <1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Knowledge of Electoral Process
The survey findings point to a gap in knowledge of the different ways one can vote in a federal election (Chart 9). Almost half of youth (46%) believe, on an unprompted basis, that there are no other ways to vote than on election day. In contrast, only 29% of older adults are unaware of any other ways to vote. As well, voters have a higher degree of awareness of the different ways to vote than non-voters.
That said, youth are more aware of the option of voting by mail in comparison to older adults (29% vs. 19%).
Chart 9: Awareness of Ways to Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 46% | 54% | 42% | 46% | 29% | 50% | 58% | 50% | 54% | 62% | 36% | 68% |
| Advance polling station | 34% | 25% | 41% | 33% | 65% | 30% | 16% | 26% | 21% | 13% | 44% | 12% |
| By mail | 29% | 27% | 30% | 28% | 19% | 26% | 23% | 35% | 27% | 22% | 36% | 13% |
| Other | 7% | 11% | 4% | 6% | 0% | 9% | 12% | 13% | 10% | 9% | 5% | 8% |
| Local Elections Canada office | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 7% | 3% | 1% | 6% | 1% |
| Don't know | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Awareness of voting in the advance polls varies greatly between youth and the 35+ group: older adults have a higher awareness of advance polls by a 2:1 margin. Meanwhile, very few eligible voters are aware of the option of voting at a local Elections Canada office, and this finding is consistent across all youth subgroups.
When considering the subgroups, lack of awareness of other ways to vote is highest among unemployed youth and lowest among rural youth and youth with a disability. The latter are also most likely to be aware of the option to vote by mail.
Respondents were asked a series of True/False questions to gauge their knowledge of proof of identity and address requirements. They were also asked whether or not it is possible to vote online. To begin, resounding majorities of both youth and older adults believe that to vote, you must prove your identity and address (Chart 10). When asked directly whether it is possible to vote online, 19% of youth and 20% of older adults said yes.
Chart 10: Awareness of Identity and Address Requirements and Voting Online
| To vote, you must prove your identity | To vote, you must prove your address | You can vote online | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth | 35+ | Youth | 35+ | Youth | 35+ | |
| True | 95% | 99% | 89% | 96% | 19% | 20% |
| False | 2% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 61% | 65% |
| Don't know | 2% | 0% | 5% | 1% | 19% | 15% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
There are some small differences in belief in the requirement to prove address and identity between youth and the older adult group (charts 11 and 12). Moreover, unemployed youth are slightly less likely to know that to vote, you must prove your address. Last, those who did not vote in the election are also less apt to believe proof of address is required to vote.
Chart 11: Awareness of Proving Identity to Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True | 95% | 94% | 96% | 94% | 99% | 94% | 93% | 91% | 96% | 93% | 99% | 89% |
| False | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 4% |
| Don't know | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 1% | 5% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Chart 12: Awareness of Proving Address to Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True | 89% | 87% | 92% | 88% | 96% | 89% | 87% | 87% | 88% | 83% | 95% | 79% |
| False | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 1% | 5% | 6% | 3% | 6% |
| Don't know | 5% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 1% | 5% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 10% | 2% | 13% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
One in five surveyed believe that you can cast a ballot online in a federal election (Chart 13). Interestingly, this belief is held consistently by both the youth and older adult groups (19% and 20%, respectively).
There are some small differences in belief that one can vote online among the youth target groups. Specifically, those who are between 18 and 22 years of age, as well as Aboriginal youth and youth with a disability, are most likely to think you can vote online.
Chart 13: Perception of Being Able to Vote Online
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True | 19% | 25% | 18% | 15% | 20% | 18% | 26% | 26% | 22% | 18% |
| False | 61% | 50% | 66% | 64% | 65% | 58% | 47% | 46% | 53% | 54% |
| Don't know | 19% | 23% | 16% | 19% | 15% | 22% | 24% | 27% | 23% | 27% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
C. Access Barriers to Voting
There are some differences when considering the ease and convenience of voting between youth and those over the age of 35 (Chart 14). Youth are less likely to strongly agree that voting is easy and convenient, as well as agree in general, in comparison to those over the age of 35. Moreover, those between the ages of 18 and 22 are less likely to strongly agree that voting is easy in comparison to youth between 23 and 29 years of age or those between 30 and 34.
In addition to differences between age groups, there are different perceptions of ease and convenience within the youth target groups. Specifically, Aboriginal youth, those with a disability and youth who are unemployed are less likely to strongly agree that voting is easy and convenient.
Chart 14: Perception That Voting Is Easy and Convenient
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 47% | 42% | 49% | 48% | 69% | 45% | 36% | 36% | 43% | 34% | 57% | 23% |
| Somewhat agree | 37% | 39% | 37% | 35% | 27% | 38% | 38% | 39% | 39% | 37% | 35% | 43% |
| Somewhat disagree | 8% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 2% | 8% | 16% | 10% | 10% | 13% | 5% | 15% |
| Strongly disagree | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 4% |
| Don't know | 4% | 6% | 3% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 3% | 12% | 1% | 12% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
To better understand perceptions of access barriers to voting, the survey included a series of questions probing how easy or difficult certain elements of the process were perceived to be. Some questions were asked of the full sample, whereas other questions were asked of voters. Non-voters received a separate series of questions related to access.
The findings indicate that information about registering to vote appears to be relatively easy to find (Chart 15). About half (45%) of youth electors believe that it was very easy to find information about how to register to vote, and an additional one in four (29%) say it was somewhat easy. At the other end of the scale, 8% found it at least somewhat difficult to find this information.
There are differences in perceptions of how easy it was to find information about registering to vote among audiences. The older adults are more likely than youth to say it was very easy to find information about registering to vote (66% vs. 45%). Additionally, Aboriginal youth are most likely to say it was somewhat or very difficult to find registration information.
Ease of finding registration information is slightly different by gender. Men are more likely than women to say it was very or somewhat easy to find the information needed (78% vs. 72%).
Chart 15: Ease of Finding Information About Registration
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 45% | 39% | 49% | 46% | 66% | 39% | 41% | 38% | 47% | 41% | 55% | 24% |
| Somewhat easy | 29% | 33% | 30% | 25% | 19% | 33% | 26% | 24% | 27% | 21% | 30% | 28% |
| Somewhat difficult | 7% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 7% | 17% | 12% | 8% | 7% | 5% | 12% |
| Very difficult | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% |
| I didn't look for information | 12% | 12% | 9% | 18% | 8% | 13% | 10% | 20% | 13% | 22% | 8% | 25% |
| Don't know | 3% | 4% | 2% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 7% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
The vast majority of both youth (93%) and older voters (96%) found getting information about where to vote to be either very or somewhat easy (Chart 16). Just 5% of youth and 3% of older adults had difficulty finding this information.
Chart 16: Ease of Finding Information About Where to Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 73% | 69% | 72% | 77% | 87% | 69% | 68% | 59% | 70% | 64% | 73% |
| Somewhat easy | 20% | 24% | 20% | 17% | 9% | 24% | 21% | 27% | 19% | 24% | 20% |
| Somewhat difficult | 4% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 7% | 9% | 5% | 0% | 4% |
| Very difficult | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| I didn't look for information | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | <1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 8% | 2% |
| Don't know | <1% | <1% | 1% | 0% | <1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | <1% | 2% | <1% |
Base: Voters who did not vote by mail (n=2,153).
A large majority of youth thought it was easy to find out when to vote, with 75% thinking it was very easy to find this information (Chart 17). On the other end of the spectrum, 3% found it somewhat or very difficult to find this information. In comparison, 89% of the 35+ group said it was very easy to find out when to vote, and almost none thought it was difficult.
Within the youth group, the 18–22 segment again expressed somewhat less ease with knowing when to vote, with 71% saying they thought it was very easy to find out this information.
There are some differences between youth target groups. Specifically, unemployed youth, youth with a disability and Aboriginal youth were less likely to say that finding the information was very easy in comparison to the other target groups.
Voters are more likely than non-voters to say that it was easy to find out when to vote. Indeed, 87% of those who voted say it was very easy, in comparison to 50% of non-voters.
Chart 17: Ease of Finding Information About When to Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 75% | 71% | 80% | 74% | 89% | 73% | 68% | 64% | 73% | 59% | 87% | 50% |
| Somewhat easy | 14% | 17% | 12% | 13% | 9% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 17% | 10% | 23% |
| Somewhat difficult | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | <1% | 2% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 1% | 5% |
| Very difficult | 1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | <1% | 2% |
| I didn't look for information | 5% | 5% | 3% | 8% | <1% | 5% | 6% | 9% | 5% | 13% | 2% | 14% |
| Don't know | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 4% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Last, about six in ten youth say it was easy to find information about the different ways to vote (Chart 18). This compares to almost eight in ten adults at least 35 years of age who say it was easy to find this information. As the chart below highlights, youth between the ages of 18 and 22 and those between 23 and 29 years of age were more likely to say it was somewhat difficult to find this information.
Aboriginal youth were less likely than other youth target groups to say it was very easy to find this information.
Chart 18: Ease of Finding Information About the Different Ways to Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 28% | 25% | 28% | 31% | 52% | 29% | 22% | 24% | 27% | 24% | 32% | 19% |
| Somewhat easy | 33% | 31% | 36% | 30% | 24% | 29% | 27% | 26% | 31% | 29% | 35% | 27% |
| Somewhat difficult | 16% | 19% | 17% | 11% | 7% | 17% | 19% | 15% | 18% | 10% | 16% | 16% |
| Very difficult | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% |
| I didn't look for information | 16% | 18% | 12% | 19% | 11% | 16% | 21% | 25% | 17% | 26% | 11% | 28% |
| Don't know | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 6% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
D. Voter-Specific Findings
The vast majority of voters found it easy to prove their identity and address in the last election (Chart 19). In fact, 84% of youth voters found it very easy, and an additional 11% said it was somewhat easy. Although a small proportion, some participants found proving their identity and address difficult. The survey suggests that this is about 5% of the population – but greater among Aboriginal youth (9%) and youth with disabilities (12%).
Among those who found it difficult to prove their identity and address, the majority had difficulty proving their address (76%).
Chart 19: Voters' Ease of Proving Identity and Address
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 84% | 82% | 82% | 88% | 92% | 83% | 78% | 72% | 84% | 79% |
| Somewhat easy | 11% | 13% | 12% | 8% | 7% | 11% | 13% | 15% | 11% | 16% |
| Somewhat difficult | 4% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 8% | 11% | 4% | 2% |
| Very difficult | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 3% |
| Don't know | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | <1% | 0% |
| Prefer not to say | <1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | 0% | <1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | <1% |
Base: All voters (n=2,213).
The vast majority of youth voters and voters over the age of 35 found it easy to get to the voting location (Chart 20). Indeed, 83% of youth and 90% of older adults thought it was very easy, while an additional 12% of youth and 8% of older voters thought it was somewhat easy. Youth electors with a disability were the least likely to say that getting to the voting location was very easy, at 76%.
Chart 20: Voters' Perceptions of Getting to the Voting Location
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 83% | 82% | 82% | 87% | 90% | 80% | 80% | 76% | 82% | 88% |
| Somewhat easy | 12% | 15% | 13% | 10% | 8% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 13% | 3% |
| Somewhat difficult | 3% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 8% |
| Very difficult | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
| Don't know | <1% | 0% | <1% | 0% | <1% | <1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Prefer not to say | <1% | 0% | <1% | <1% | 0% | <1% | 0% | 0% | <1% | 0% |
Base: All voters (n=2,153).
Those with a disability who voted were asked how difficult or easy it was to access the polling station (Chart 21). The results show that most youth feel that it was either very (76%) or somewhat (17%) easy to access the station. While small, the findings point to 7% of youth with a disability having some difficulty accessing the polling station.
Voters with a disability over the age of 35 were more likely than their younger counterparts to say that it was very easy to access the polling station.
Chart 21: Ease of Accessing the Polling Station Among Voters with a Disability
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 76% | 77% | 77% | 73% | 90% | 72% | 74% | 76% | 62% | 73% |
| Somewhat easy | 17% | 16% | 18% | 17% | 4% | 18% | 10% | 17% | 29% | 19% |
| Somewhat difficult | 4% | 6% | 0% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 9% | 8% |
| Very difficult | 3% | <1% | 5% | 3% | 0% | 5% | 10% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
Base: Voters with a disability (n=204).
E. Non-Voter-Specific Findings
In contrast to voters, non-voters were much less likely to perceive it as easy or very easy to get to the voting location (Chart 22). Just 39% of youth non-voters felt that it would have been very easy to get to their voting location. This rises to 60% among non-voting older adults. Nearly one in five non-voting youth and older adults believed that it would have been somewhat or very difficult to get to their voting location – this perception of difficulty is considerably higher among non-voters than among voters. Among the subgroups, youth non-voters with a disability were the least likely to believe it would have been very easy to get to the voting location.
Chart 22: Non-Voters' Perception of Ease of Getting to the Voting Location
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 39% | 37% | 41% | 41% | 60% | 43% | 41% | 22% | 39% | 32% |
| Somewhat easy | 28% | 30% | 24% | 29% | 20% | 24% | 21% | 26% | 26% | 31% |
| Somewhat difficult | 12% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 13% | 9% | 15% | 12% | 14% | 7% |
| Very difficult | 6% | 5% | 12% | 2% | 6% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 7% | 9% |
| Don't know | 12% | 13% | 9% | 14% | 2% | 10% | 11% | 28% | 13% | 19% |
| Prefer not to say | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 0% | 1% |
Base: All non-voters (n=831).
While the majority of non-voters think that it would have been easy to prove their identity and address had they voted, 13% of youth non-voters feel it would have been somewhat or very difficult to do so (Chart 23). The perception of difficulty is higher among Aboriginal youth (16%) and youth with a disability (24%).
Chart 23: Non-Voters' Perception of Ease of Proving Identity and Address
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 56% | 51% | 58% | 58% | 83% | 56% | 46% | 54% | 58% | 62% |
| Somewhat easy | 22% | 26% | 19% | 20% | 9% | 24% | 28% | 11% | 20% | 16% |
| Somewhat difficult | 9% | 8% | 10% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 13% | 17% | 12% | 7% |
| Very difficult | 4% | 3% | 7% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 2% | 6% |
| Don't know | 8% | 9% | 5% | 10% | 3% | 8% | 4% | 12% | 6% | 8% |
| Prefer not to say | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 3% | 5% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
Base: All non-voters (n=831).
When comparing voters and non-voters who said that proving their identity and address was either somewhat difficult or very difficult, some differences are observed (Chart 24). Twelve percent of youth non-voters (specifically, 11% among those 18 to 22, 17% among those 23 to 29 and 9% among those 30 to 34) felt that proving their identity and address would be either somewhat or very difficult, compared to 5% of youth voters (4% among those 18 to 22, 6% among those 23 to 29 and 4% among those 30 to 34).
Looking at youth subgroups, youth with a disability (24%) and ethnocultural youth (14%) who did not vote were more likely than those who voted (11% and 5%, respectively) to perceive that proving their identity and address would be difficult.
Chart 24: Voters and Non-Voters' Perception of Difficulty of Proving Identity and Address
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter | 5%+ | 4% | 6% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 9% | 11%– | 5% | 5%1 |
| Non-voter | 12%*+ | 11%* | 17%* | 9%* | 5%1 | 8% | 17%1 | 24%*1– | 14%* | 13% |
Base: All voters (n=2,213)/all non-voters (n=831).
*Indicates a result that is statistically significantly higher than its comparison group (voters vs. non-voters).
+Indicates a result that is statistically significantly higher than its comparison group:
+Youth vs. 35+
–Youth subgroup (i.e. Rural, Aboriginal, Disabled, Ethnocultural or Unemployed vs. Youth)
1Interpret results with caution due to small base size.
3. Motivational Factors and Barriers
A. General Attitudes
Over half of youth are at least somewhat satisfied with the way democracy works in Canada, while 16% are very satisfied (Chart 25). That said, more than a quarter of those surveyed are somewhat or very dissatisfied with Canadian democracy. In contrast, adults over 35 are more likely to be very satisfied with Canadian democracy.
Looking at youth subgroups, Aboriginal youth and youth with a disability are more likely to be at least somewhat dissatisfied with Canadian democracy than other youth target groups.
Chart 25: Satisfaction with Democracy in Canada
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very satisfied | 16% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 28% | 16% | 11% | 13% | 19% | 18% | 17% | 13% |
| Somewhat satisfied | 52% | 54% | 52% | 50% | 48% | 51% | 45% | 45% | 55% | 44% | 53% | 48% |
| Somewhat dissatisfied | 19% | 17% | 21% | 19% | 15% | 19% | 27% | 23% | 14% | 15% | 21% | 16% |
| Very dissatisfied | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 7% | 6% | 10% | 12% | 5% | 9% | 6% | 10% |
| Don't know | 5% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 1% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 12% | 2% | 12% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Respondents were provided with a number of attitudinal statements and asked about their level of agreement or disagreement with each (Chart 26). These statements were designed to gauge broad attitudes about politics and the connection one might have with the democratic process. When looking at the level of agreement across the statements, respondents are most likely to agree that "there is at least one political party that talks about issues that are important to me."
Chart 26: Broad Attitudes About Politics and Connection to the Democratic Process
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| There is at least one political party that talks about issues that are important to me | 84% | 84% | 87% | 80% | 88% | 84% | 86% | 78% | 84% | 66% | 91% | 68% |
| I feel that by voting I can make a difference | 74% | 75% | 77% | 70% | 86% | 74% | 76% | 69% | 77% | 65% | 84% | 53% |
| I do not think government cares much about what people like me think | 48% | 46% | 45% | 53% | 47% | 52% | 59% | 55% | 51% | 55% | 43% | 58% |
| Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that someone like me can't really understand what's going on | 45% | 50% | 42% | 45% | 39% | 52% | 58% | 46% | 57% | 51% | 42% | 52% |
| All federal political parties are the same; there is not really a choice | 28% | 25% | 25% | 34% | 27% | 29% | 35% | 31% | 34% | 36% | 23% | 41% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Three in four youth believe that, by voting, they can make a difference. Again, youth are less likely to strongly agree with this statement in comparison to the older adult group.
Meanwhile, slightly less than half do not think that "government cares much about what people like [them] think" and feel that "sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that someone like me can't really understand what's going on."
Respondents are the least likely to agree that "all federal parties are the same; there is not really a choice." This suggests that they see differences among the federal parties. When comparing youth and older adults, there are no statistically significant differences.
B. Interest in the Federal Election and Politics in General
Over eight in ten youth claim some interest in the most recent federal election (Chart 27). Indeed, just over half say they were very interested, and an additional 34% claim to be somewhat interested, in the federal election. In contrast, those over the age of 35 reported very high rates of interest, with 76% claiming to be very interested in the election and an additional 17% somewhat interested.
There are variations in the level of interest expressed by different youth subgroups. Specifically, those between the ages of 18 and 22 were less likely to be very interested in the election. In addition, youth living in rural areas as well as unemployed youth were less likely to say they were very interested in the federal election, compared to the other target groups.
Chart 27: Interest in the Federal Election
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very interested | 52% | 46% | 55% | 52% | 76% | 46% | 56% | 54% | 54% | 35% | 66% | 19% |
| Somewhat interested | 34% | 38% | 35% | 28% | 17% | 37% | 28% | 31% | 33% | 39% | 30% | 44% |
| Not very interested | 8% | 9% | 5% | 11% | 3% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 10% | 3% | 20% |
| Not at all interested | 5% | 5% | 4% | 6% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 12% | 1% | 15% |
| Don't know | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | <1% | 2% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | <1% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Regionally, youth in Quebec (77%) expressed lower levels of interest in the federal election compared to youth in other regions (low of 86% in Alberta to a high of 93% in Atlantic Canada) (Chart 28).
Chart 28: Interest in the Federal Election by Region
| Youth | Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairies | Alberta | BC/Territories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very interested | 52% | 61% | 41% | 53% | 56% | 51% | 61% |
| Somewhat interested | 34% | 32% | 36% | 34% | 35% | 35% | 31% |
| Not very interested | 8% | 4% | 14% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 4% |
| Not at all interested | 5% | 1% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 5% | 3% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Turning to Chart 29, over three in four youth say they were very or somewhat interested in Canadian politics. Meanwhile, adults over the age of 35 were almost twice as likely to claim they were very interested in Canadian politics.
Chart 29: Interest in Canadian Politics
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very interested | 28% | 23% | 30% | 30% | 53% | 23% | 34% | 30% | 26% | 21% | 35% | 12% |
| Somewhat interested | 51% | 52% | 52% | 46% | 39% | 52% | 47% | 43% | 54% | 46% | 54% | 44% |
| Not very interested | 14% | 17% | 13% | 13% | 6% | 16% | 11% | 19% | 13% | 19% | 9% | 26% |
| Not at all interested | 5% | 7% | 3% | 8% | 1% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 12% | 1% | 16% |
| Don't know | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 2% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Across youth target groups, those who are unemployed display the least amount of interest in both the most recent federal election as well as Canadian politics in general. Perhaps not surprising is that those who voted in the federal election were much more likely to say they were interested in the election, as well as in Canadian politics in general, compared to those who did not vote.
On the whole, youth are split on whether voting is a duty or a choice (Chart 30). Indeed, 47% consider it a choice, while 49% believe it is a duty. Footnote 3 In contrast, older adults are much more likely to view voting as a duty (64%) rather than a choice (36%). Meanwhile, unemployed youth are more likely than other target audiences to consider voting a choice (60%).
Chart 30: Voting: A Duty or Choice
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duty | 49% | 47% | 52% | 45% | 64% | 47% | 43% | 46% | 47% | 30% | 62% | 18% |
| Choice | 47% | 48% | 44% | 49% | 36% | 48% | 50% | 51% | 49% | 60% | 37% | 71% |
| Don't know | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 0% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 6% | 1% | 8% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 0% | 3% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Youth and older adults were asked about their feelings about politicians and political parties in general. They were presented with a scale of 0 to 100. To begin, feelings about politicians can be characterized as lukewarm (Chart 31). One in ten youth have very positive feelings (score of 76 or higher), and an additional 34% have mildly positive impressions, providing a rating of between 51 and 75. On the other end of the spectrum, 20% of youth have negative feelings, with a rating of between 0 and 25. The remaining 36% are somewhat negative, with scores between 26 and 50; the average score provided by youth was 34.3.
There are some differences in feelings about politicians by age and target youth subgroup. To begin, older adults are more positive in their assessments of politicians than youth. Meanwhile, those between 30 and 34 years of age are more likely to provide negative ratings in comparison to their younger counterparts.
In addition, Aboriginal youth, youth with a disability and youth who are unemployed are more apt to have negative feelings toward politicians in comparison to the other target groups.
Last, there are some differences in perceptions by voter status. Youth who did not vote are twice as likely as those who voted to have a negative impression of politicians.
Chart 31: Feelings About Politicians
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–25 | 20% | 18% | 16% | 27% | 14% | 21% | 27% | 28% | 20% | 28% | 15% | 32% |
| 26–50 | 36% | 35% | 36% | 37% | 33% | 38% | 32% | 37% | 34% | 37% | 35% | 39% |
| 51–75 | 34% | 36% | 37% | 28% | 41% | 29% | 27% | 28% | 34% | 29% | 39% | 21% |
| 76–100 | 10% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 12% | 12% | 14% | 7% | 12% | 6% | 11% | 7% |
| Mean | 34.3 | 36.0 | 36.2 | 30.0 | 38.6 | 33.8 | 32.7 | 29.0 | 35.1 | 29.1 | 37.6 | 26.7 |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
The findings on feelings about political parties largely mirror those presented above about politicians. Again, youth hold largely lukewarm impressions of political parties (Chart 32). On the positive side, 13% of youth provide scores between 76 and 100 to describe their feelings. Meanwhile, similar proportions of youth give a number between 51 and 75 (35%) and 26 to 50 (34%). Last, 18% have a negative impression, with scores between 0 and 25.
There are differences across subgroups in feelings about political parties. When looking at age within the youth group, those between 30 and 34 years of age are more likely to hold negative impressions of political parties. This is also evident among youth with a disability and youth who are unemployed in comparison to the other target groups.
In addition, those who did not vote are more likely to have negative impressions of political parties as compared to those who say they voted.
Chart 32: Feelings About Political Parties
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–25 | 18% | 14% | 15% | 25% | 12% | 20% | 18% | 25% | 15% | 26% | 13% | 30% |
| 26–50 | 34% | 31% | 33% | 39% | 33% | 34% | 36% | 36% | 36% | 38% | 32% | 39% |
| 51–75 | 35% | 40% | 37% | 28% | 40% | 31% | 30% | 27% | 35% | 30% | 39% | 25% |
| 76–100 | 13% | 15% | 15% | 8% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 12% | 13% | 5% | 16% | 7% |
| Mean | 36.7 | 40.0 | 39.0 | 30.4 | 40.6 | 36.4 | 37.0 | 32.1 | 37.8 | 29.4 | 40.5 | 27.8 |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
C. Political Socialization and Influencers
Voters being engaged by various political actors is a common occurrence during an electoral event, and this election was no different. However, the findings suggest that those at least 35 years of age are more likely to report having been contacted. Indeed, almost six in ten in this older group claim that they were directly contacted, in comparison to three in ten youth (Chart 33). Within the youth audience, those between 18 and 22 years of age are the least likely to say they were directly contacted by a candidate or party.
Rate of contact across the youth subgroups was similar. Youth who voted are almost twice as likely as those who did not vote to say they were contacted by a political party or candidate.
Chart 33: Contact from Political Parties or Candidates
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 29% | 23% | 28% | 37% | 59% | 25% | 29% | 31% | 31% | 29% | 34% | 18% |
| No | 66% | 71% | 69% | 58% | 40% | 70% | 67% | 59% | 61% | 65% | 63% | 75% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 4% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 10% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 6% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
The survey points to three methods primarily used to target youth voters by candidates or political parties, as shown in Chart 34. These include door-to-door canvassing, by telephone with a live person and by telephone using an automated call. Fewer were contacted by e-mail or social media, on the street or in a public space. There are some differences in how the youth and older adult groups were reached. Youth are more likely to say they were contacted by door-to-door canvassing (58% vs. 49%). Meanwhile, the 35+ group is more likely to say they were contacted by phone, either by a live person (63%) or an automated call (52%).
Chart 34: How Contacted by Political Parties or Candidates
| Youth (n=720) | 18 to 22 (n=165) | 23 to 29 (n=293) | 30 to 34 (n=276) | 35+ (n=289) | Rural (n=167) | Aboriginal (n=66) | Disabled (n=65) | Ethnocultural (n=187) | Unemployed (n=33) | Voter (n=582) | Non Voter (n=133) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At home through door-to-door canvassing | 58% | 54% | 59% | 60% | 49% | 46% | 75% | 68% | 64% | 60% | 59% | 57% |
| By phone through a live person | 48% | 60% | 46% | 43% | 63% | 49% | 43% | 56% | 57% | 55% | 49% | 42% |
| By phone through an automated call | 42% | 49% | 38% | 41% | 52% | 53% | 34% | 45% | 46% | 47% | 40% | 46% |
| By e-mail | 24% | 24% | 26% | 22% | 25% | 21% | 44% | 30% | 27% | 31% | 24% | 23% |
| Through social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) | 24% | 31% | 23% | 20% | 23% | 31% | 45% | 29% | 22% | 20% | 24% | 25% |
| On the street or in a public space | 19% | 23% | 16% | 21% | 17% | 22% | 24% | 23% | 22% | 16% | 19% | 20% |
Base: All respondents who were directly contacted by a political party or candidate (n=1,009).
There is a significant difference in Quebec, where youth were almost twice as likely to have been contacted by an automated call as in other regions (69% in Quebec compared to the next high of 39% in British Columbia).
Encouragement to vote can come from many sources, and the survey demonstrates that a number of groups were encouraging both youth and older adults to vote (Chart 35). Overall, close to two in three youth say that the news media encouraged them to vote (64%), followed closely by friends (63%). Others say they were encouraged by family (55%) and by politicians (40%). Among adults over 35, the top encouragers to vote were the news media (60%), followed by politicians (46%) and friends (45%).
Chart 35: Voting Encouragement
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| News media | 64% | 66% | 69% | 57% | 60% | 65% | 67% | 63% | 68% | 58% | 68% | 56% |
| Your friends | 63% | 67% | 67% | 53% | 45% | 59% | 70% | 65% | 68% | 51% | 69% | 49% |
| Your family | 55% | 67% | 58% | 41% | 34% | 57% | 65% | 61% | 59% | 41% | 62% | 40% |
| Politicians, a party or a candidate | 40% | 41% | 41% | 38% | 46% | 35% | 44% | 48% | 45% | 34% | 46% | 27% |
| Your spouse/partner | 31% | 23% | 36% | 32% | 31% | 33% | 26% | 26% | 27% | 27% | 36% | 20% |
| A community, environmental or social organization | 29% | 30% | 32% | 24% | 23% | 25% | 41% | 36% | 37% | 20% | 32% | 22% |
| A teacher/professor | 21% | 41% | 19% | 8% | 3% | 24% | 44% | 36% | 34% | 11% | 23% | 18% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Certain target audiences were also encouraged by groups specific to that audience. Thus, 49% of students reported being encouraged to vote by a student organization, 35% of Aboriginal youth by an Aboriginal organization and 23% of ethnocultural youth by ethnocultural or other cultural groups. Youth with a disability are the least likely to say that organizations specializing in engaging people with disabilities reached out to encourage them to vote (17%).
Youth and older adults were asked whether their partner/spouse had voted in the federal election. While all respondents were asked this question, the findings below exclude those who said "Not applicable" or "Refused." The purpose of this was to determine whether there were truly differences in the responses by removing "life stage" factors. As highlighted in Chart 36, two in three youth who are married say their spouse voted in the election. This number is higher for older adults, 82% of whom say their spouse voted.
The results show a relationship between voting behaviour and having a spouse who voted. Indeed, 82% of those who voted say their spouse had voted as well.
Chart 36: Spouse Voted (Among Those with a Spouse)
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, they voted | 69% | 60% | 74% | 70% | 82% | 68% | 68% | 69% | 60% | 65% | 82% | 36% |
| No, they didn't vote | 31% | 40% | 26% | 30% | 18% | 32% | 32% | 31% | 40% | 35% | 18% | 64% |
Base: All respondents with a spouse.
In general, both youth and older adults perceive that most or many of their social groups voted (Chart 37). Seventy-five percent of youth and 80% of adults over 35 say that most or many of their family voted. The contrast between youth and older adults is somewhat greater when considering their friends, with seven in ten (71%) youth and 84% of older adults saying that most or many of their friends voted. Slightly fewer say that most or many of their colleagues voted (65% and 71%). A similar proportion (64%) of youth, but a much lower proportion of older adults (41%), report that most or many of their classmates voted. Similar results are found among the youth subgroups, with the exception of unemployed youth, who are less likely to say that their family or friends voted. Finally, youth voters are much more likely to indicate that their social connections voted than are youth non-voters.
Chart 37: Community Voting Behaviour
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your family | 75% | 75% | 78% | 70% | 80% | 74% | 72% | 67% | 71% | 56% | 86% | 50% |
| Your close friends | 71% | 67% | 75% | 68% | 84% | 68% | 70% | 63% | 67% | 52% | 83% | 43% |
| Your colleagues | 65% | 60% | 71% | 62% | 71% | 66% | 59% | 64% | 67% | N/A | 72% | 48% |
| Your classmates | 64% | 62% | 68% | 59% | 41% | 64% | 67% | 61% | 66% | N/A | 71% | 46% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Half of youth (51%) say they sometimes talked politics at home growing up, and another 22% say they often spoke about it (Chart 38). Older adults are more likely to say they often talked about these subjects growing up (33%). There are also some differences across the target youth groups: unemployed youth and Aboriginal youth are more likely to say these subjects were never discussed at home.
Chart 38: Talking Politics at Home Growing Up
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Often | 22% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 33% | 19% | 15% | 26% | 21% | 15% | 27% | 12% |
| Sometimes | 51% | 51% | 50% | 50% | 47% | 53% | 47% | 42% | 52% | 41% | 53% | 46% |
| Never | 23% | 23% | 23% | 23% | 18% | 23% | 31% | 27% | 22% | 37% | 18% | 35% |
| Don't know | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 4% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | <1% | <1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | <1% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Among youth, the frequency of talking politics or government with various people or groups is similar. About half say they sometimes discuss these topics with friends, family, colleagues or classmates. Meanwhile, approximately one in four say they speak with these groups often about politics or government (Chart 39).
Chart 39: Talking Politics with Different People
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your family | 27% | 31% | 28% | 22% | 32% | 27% | 26% | 35% | 28% | 17% | 33% | 15% |
| Your friends | 24% | 22% | 25% | 25% | 30% | 18% | 22% | 26% | 25% | 13% | 30% | 10% |
| Spouse/partner | 22% | 12% | 26% | 27% | 38% | 23% | 23% | 22% | 17% | 14% | 27% | 10% |
| Your classmates | 20% | 18% | 24% | 22% | 10% | 18% | 28% | 19% | 22% | 0% | 24% | 12% |
| Your colleagues | 19% | 15% | 20% | 20% | 26% | 18% | 31% | 26% | 22% | 0% | 22% | 10% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Not surprisingly, rates of political discussion are generally higher among older adults than among youth. Youth who discuss politics are most likely to do so with family, followed by friends and their spouse or partner. There are also some differences across youth target groups: Aboriginal youth are more likely to discuss politics with colleagues and classmates, while unemployed youth are the least likely to talk politics with anyone. There are also significant differences in the rates of discussion between voters and non-voters.
D. Political Engagement
The survey highlights that youth have a wide-ranging level of engagement in a number of activism-type activities (Chart 40). They are most likely to say they searched for information on the Internet about politics or public issues (68%), followed by watching a leaders' debate during the election (49%). A plurality claim to have raised or donated money to a cause (42%), used social media to share political information (40%) or signed a petition (38%).
By contrast, few say they have actively written letters to a newspaper (4%), attended an information session on how to register and vote in the election (4%) or participated in an event organized by a candidate or party during the election (7%).
Chart 40: Activism and Engagement
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Searched for info online about politics or public issues | 68% | 67% | 75% | 59% | 60% | 62% | 68% | 71% | 71% | 52% | 80% | 42% |
| Watched a leaders' debate during the election | 49% | 48% | 54% | 43% | 65% | 42% | 47% | 50% | 51% | 33% | 60% | 24% |
| Raised or donated money for a cause | 42% | 41% | 45% | 40% | 45% | 41% | 36% | 49% | 40% | 14% | 47% | 31% |
| Used social media to share political information or content | 40% | 39% | 44% | 35% | 29% | 36% | 54% | 51% | 41% | 29% | 48% | 22% |
| Signed a petition | 38% | 40% | 42% | 31% | 27% | 32% | 42% | 51% | 39% | 24% | 44% | 23% |
| Bought or boycotted products for political, environmental or ethical reasons | 29% | 21% | 32% | 31% | 28% | 26% | 25% | 32% | 22% | 21% | 35% | 16% |
| Left a comment on a blog, discussion group, or an online article | 28% | 27% | 32% | 26% | 20% | 24% | 32% | 44% | 31% | 22% | 32% | 20% |
| Wore a T-shirt, bracelet, or badge for a cause | 26% | 31% | 26% | 21% | 19% | 24% | 33% | 33% | 30% | 12% | 27% | 23% |
| Attended a community meeting about a local issue | 13% | 13% | 14% | 12% | 20% | 17% | 18% | 14% | 14% | 6% | 16% | 6% |
| Contacted a politician to express your views on an issue | 10% | 6% | 11% | 13% | 20% | 9% | 10% | 16% | 9% | 8% | 13% | 4% |
| Participated in a demonstration or protest march | 9% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 6% | 8% | 11% | 12% | 9% | 6% | 11% | 4% |
| Displayed signs for a party or a candidate during the election | 8% | 10% | 8% | 7% | 14% | 8% | 8% | 13% | 13% | 5% | 10% | 4% |
| Participated in an event organized by a party or a candidate during the election | 7% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 4% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 5% | 8% | 4% |
| Wrote a letter or e-mail to a newspaper | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 6% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| Attended an information session on how to register and vote in the election | 4% | 7% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 7% | 3% | 5% | 4% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
An index was created to understand how active youth were in doing these activities. Of the 15 different activities tested, 36% of those surveyed claim to have participated in 5 or more activities (Chart 41). For analytical purposes, we describe this group as "very engaged." Half are classified as "engaged," having conducted between one and four of these activities. The remaining 14% are "disengaged" as they have not participated in any of these activities in the past year.
Chart 41: Political Participation Index by Age and Target Group
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very engaged | 36% | 34% | 41% | 32% | 34% | 31% | 40% | 50% | 38% | 20% | 44% | 18% |
| Engaged | 50% | 52% | 50% | 47% | 59% | 52% | 46% | 38% | 49% | 53% | 50% | 50% |
| Not engaged | 14% | 14% | 9% | 21% | 8% | 17% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 27% | 6% | 32% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
There are differences in engagement across demographics. To begin, youth in general are less likely than the older group to engage in any form of activities. Among youth, those who claim to be very engaged are more likely to be between 23 and 29 years of age, while the least engaged are between the ages of 30 and 34. Across youth target groups, youth with a disability are more likely than others to be very engaged, whereas unemployed youth are the least engaged group.
Last, those who voted in the last election are more than twice as likely to be very engaged in comparison to those who did not vote.
Regionally, youth in Ontario are more likely than those in Quebec or Alberta to be in the very engaged group (Chart 42).
Chart 42: Political Participation Index by Region
| Youth | Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairies | Alberta | BC/Territories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very engaged | 36% | 40% | 32% | 40% | 35% | 32% | 38% |
| Engaged | 50% | 50% | 51% | 48% | 53% | 53% | 49% |
| Not engaged | 14% | 11% | 17% | 12% | 13% | 15% | 13% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
In addition, the survey asked about general volunteer work and volunteering for a political party or candidate. As Chart 43 shows, almost four in ten respondents say they had volunteered in the previous 12 months, and these findings are consistent between youth and the older group. However, there are some differences within the youth cohort: specifically, those between the ages of 18 and 22 are more likely than older youth to have volunteered in the past year, while those between the ages of 30 and 34 are the least likely to have done so. Among youth target groups, Aboriginal youth and youth with a disability are more likely to have volunteered, while unemployed youth are the least likely. Women are more likely than men to have volunteered as well. Regionally, youth in Quebec are the least likely to have volunteered. Moreover, those with children are less apt to volunteer compared to those without children.
Chart 43: Volunteerism for Any Organization in the Past Year
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 39% | 47% | 39% | 31% | 38% | 39% | 46% | 47% | 42% | 26% | 44% | 27% |
| No | 59% | 50% | 60% | 66% | 62% | 58% | 51% | 46% | 55% | 72% | 55% | 71% |
| Don't know/Don't remember | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
In stark contrast, very few respondents had volunteered for a political party or candidate (Chart 44). Just 7% of youth and 12% of older adults said they had done political volunteering. Within the youth cohort, Aboriginal youth were the most likely to report political volunteering (10%).
Chart 44: Political Volunteer Work
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 7% | 5% | 5% | 12% | 12% | 7% | 10% | 6% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 5% |
| No | 93% | 94% | 95% | 88% | 88% | 92% | 90% | 94% | 92% | 96% | 92% | 94% |
Base: All respondents who did volunteer work for any organization in the previous 12 months (n=1,251).
E. Civic Education
Six in ten youth recall taking courses in high school in which they learned about government and politics (Chart 45). The youth cohort are more likely to say they received this type of learning in comparison to the older adult group. Moreover, there are some differences across youth target groups. Youth in rural areas, unemployed youth and Aboriginal youth are less likely to say they learned about government and politics when in school. Meanwhile, those who say they voted are much more likely than those who did not vote to say they learned about government and politics in high school.
Chart 45: Learning About Government and Politics in High School
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 60% | 67% | 61% | 50% | 50% | 53% | 52% | 66% | 66% | 53% | 65% | 46% |
| No | 34% | 27% | 34% | 41% | 45% | 39% | 41% | 27% | 27% | 39% | 30% | 45% |
| Don't know | 6% | 5% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 8% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Just under half of all youth recall having participated in mock elections such as the Student Vote program in primary or high school (Chart 46). Youth are more likely to say they participated in comparison to the older group (46% vs. 39%). Given that the Student Vote program began in 2003, it is unlikely that any in the 35+ group would have participated in that particular mock election program (except perhaps as teachers). However, they may be recalling participation in mock elections more generally.
Those who say they voted are more likely than non-voters to recall participating in a mock election program.
Chart 46: Participation in Student Vote
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 46% | 53% | 48% | 36% | 39% | 45% | 36% | 38% | 45% | 47% | 49% | 39% |
| No | 48% | 42% | 47% | 56% | 57% | 48% | 55% | 50% | 48% | 46% | 46% | 53% |
| Don't know | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 11% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 2% | <1% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
F. Information Sources
In general, eligible youth voters used three sources for information about the election: media websites (23%), television (20%) and social media (19%) (Chart 47). The older adult group is more likely to say that television was their main source of information (37%), followed by media websites (19%) and newspapers (16%). Of note, social media was a more popular information source among youth compared to older adults (19% vs. 7%).
Interestingly, Aboriginal youth are most likely to use social media sites as their main source of information about the election.
Chart 47: Primary Source of Information
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Television | 20% | 16% | 17% | 26% | 37% | 24% | 12% | 22% | 21% | 23% | 17% | 10% |
| Media website, blog or other Web source | 23% | 18% | 28% | 22% | 19% | 16% | 17% | 19% | 19% | 20% | 29% | 10% |
| Social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) | 19% | 22% | 19% | 15% | 7% | 20% | 29% | 23% | 21% | 17% | 19% | 19% |
| Newspaper/magazine | 6% | 4% | 6% | 7% | 16% | 3% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 4% |
| Elections Canada (advertising, social media, etc.) | 7% | 11% | 6% | 5% | <1% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 9% |
| Family or friends | 6% | 10% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
| Radio | 3% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Voter Information Card | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | <1% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% |
| A political party website | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 1% |
| Government | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | 1% |
| Mail (general) | <1% | <1% | 1% | 0% | <1% | 1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | <1% | 1% |
| Pamphlets from candidates received in the mail | <1% | <1% | 0% | <1% | <1% | <1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Just over 70% of youth felt that it was easy to get enough information about the candidates and parties to know whom to vote for in their riding (Chart 48). Overall, similar proportions believed that it was either very (34%) or somewhat (37%) easy to find candidate information. However, the findings suggest that almost 20% found it somewhat or very difficult to find this information.
There are some differences in the perception of ease of finding this information. The older adult group was more likely to find it very or somewhat easy to find information about candidates and political parties, in comparison to youth (Chart 48). Regionally, youth in Atlantic Canada were most likely to think that finding this information was easy, in comparison to those in other regions (Chart 49).
Chart 48: Ease of Finding Information About Candidates and Political Parties by Age and Target Group
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 34% | 33% | 35% | 35% | 59% | 35% | 37% | 30% | 30% | 34% | 38% | 26% |
| Somewhat easy | 37% | 36% | 37% | 36% | 22% | 36% | 33% | 32% | 39% | 25% | 39% | 30% |
| Somewhat difficult | 15% | 14% | 18% | 12% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 18% | 17% | 14% | 15% | 14% |
| Very difficult | 4% | 5% | 4% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 3% | 5% |
| I didn't look for information | 7% | 8% | 5% | 10% | 1% | 7% | 10% | 12% | 6% | 16% | 3% | 19% |
| Don't know | 2% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 0% | 6% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Chart 49: Ease of Finding Information About Candidates and Political Parties by Region
| Youth | Atlantic | Quebec | Ontario | Prairies | Alberta | BC/Territories | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very easy | 34% | 42% | 40% | 33% | 34% | 29% | 34% |
| Somewhat easy | 37% | 40% | 34% | 36% | 33% | 41% | 37% |
| Somewhat difficult | 15% | 8% | 12% | 18% | 17% | 15% | 15% |
| Very difficult | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 4% |
| I didn't look for information | 7% | 5% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 8% | 7% |
| Don't know | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Prefer not to say | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
G. Political Knowledge
Finally, the survey asked a series of questions to gauge participants' levels of political knowledge. These included identifying the party that won the most seats in the federal election, naming their provincial premier, assigning responsibility (federally or provincially) on a couple of portfolios and naming the position that David Cameron holds.
To begin, a large majority of youth (85%) correctly identified the Liberal Party as the party that won the most seats in the latest federal election (Chart 50). There are some differences between youth and the 35+ group, with youth being slightly less knowledgeable (85% vs. 95%) and more likely to say that they did not know. As well, there are some differences by youth target groups. Aboriginal youth (76%) and unemployed youth (66%) are less knowledgeable about who won the most seats and most likely to report not knowing. Voting youth are more likely than non-voting youth to correctly identify the Liberal Party as winning the most seats in the federal election.
Chart 50: Party That Won the Most Seats in the Federal Election
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Party | 85% | 81% | 88% | 86% | 95% | 80% | 76% | 80% | 86% | 66% | 94% | 67% |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
| Don't know | 12% | 16% | 10% | 9% | 3% | 15% | 19% | 18% | 10% | 26% | 4% | 28% |
| Prefer not to say | 2% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 0% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 1% | 2% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Overall, six in ten (62%) youth correctly name the provincial government as having primary responsibility for education (Chart 51). Slightly fewer (54%) correctly identify the federal government as being responsible for employment insurance (Chart 52). In both "tests," youth are less likely than the 35+ group to correctly assign responsibility to the appropriate level of government. It is interesting that unemployed youth are the least likely to correctly identify the federal government as being responsible for employment insurance.
Chart 51: Level of Government Responsible for Education
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 15% | 12% | 15% | 17% | 11% | 17% | 22% | 12% | 17% | 16% | 14% | 16% |
| Provincial | 62% | 62% | 63% | 61% | 76% | 58% | 53% | 66% | 63% | 48% | 69% | 48% |
| Municipal | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 6% |
| Don't know | 18% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 9% | 20% | 20% | 18% | 14% | 32% | 13% | 28% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Chart 52: Responsibility for Employment Insurance
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 54% | 42% | 57% | 61% | 75% | 49% | 47% | 38% | 50% | 37% | 58% | 46% |
| Provincial | 23% | 26% | 22% | 20% | 17% | 25% | 30% | 29% | 25% | 29% | 23% | 23% |
| Municipal | 2% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 2% |
| Don't know | 20% | 27% | 19% | 16% | 7% | 23% | 19% | 28% | 19% | 28% | 17% | 28% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Turning to familiarity with different political figures, just over half (56%) of youth correctly identify their provincial or territorial premier, in comparison to over three quarters (76%) of the older adult group (Chart 53). Within the youth target groups, awareness of the provincial or territorial premier is lowest among Aboriginal and unemployed youth.
Meanwhile, youth who voted in the federal election are more likely to correctly identify their provincial or territorial premier in comparison to those who did not vote in the federal election.
Chart 53: Awareness of Provincial or Territorial Premier
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct | 56% | 49% | 57% | 62% | 76% | 51% | 42% | 56% | 53% | 42% | 66% | 34% |
| Incorrect | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 3% | 10% | 13% | 5% | 8% | 9% | 3% | 7% |
| Don't know | 33% | 41% | 33% | 27% | 20% | 35% | 42% | 37% | 34% | 48% | 2% | 3% |
| Prefer not to say | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 2% | 26% | 50% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Within the youth cohort, those between the ages of 18 and 22 are less likely than their older counterparts to know who their provincial or territorial premier is. There is also a slight difference in gender: male youth are more knowledgeable than female youth (60% vs. 52%).
There are also notable differences across the provinces and territories (Chart 54), with youth in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Prince Edward Island most likely to correctly identify their premier, while youth in New Brunswick, Manitoba and Yukon are least likely.
Chart 54: Awareness of Provincial Premier by Province or Territory
| Youth | Northwest Territories | Nunavut | Prince Edward Island | Saskat-chewan | British Columbia | Newfound -land | Quebec | Ontario | Alberta | Nova Scotia | New Bruns -wick | Manitoba | Yukon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct | 56% | 83% | 75% | 70% | 68% | 61% | 60% | 60% | 58% | 56% | 55% | 44% | 36% | 33% |
| Incorrect | 7% | 0% | 25% | 0% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 14% | 3% | 0% |
| Don't know | 33% | 17% | 0% | 30% | 25% | 30% | 33% | 28% | 32% | 36% | 38% | 37% | 57% | 67% |
| Prefer not to say | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 3% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 0% |
Note: The base for some of the provinces/territories is very small.
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
A final question asked what job David Cameron holds. This question was designed to gauge levels of awareness of global issues. Perhaps not surprisingly, it elicited the lowest levels of political awareness (Chart 55). One in five youth correctly identify him as the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Footnote 4 This is slightly lower than the awareness among the older age group, which sits at 25%. Among the youth target groups, awareness of David Cameron's role is lowest among rural and Aboriginal youth. As with other findings, there are differences across gender: male youth are twice as likely as female youth to correctly identify David Cameron (27% vs. 14%).
Chart 55: Awareness of David Cameron's Role
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | 21% | 17% | 21% | 23% | 25% | 14% | 13% | 24% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 10% |
| Leader of the British Conservative Party | <1% | 1% | 0% | <1% | <1% | <1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | <1% | <1% |
| Governor General | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
| Prime Minister (unspecified) | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | <1% | 1% | 1% |
| Other | 3% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Don't know | 71% | 74% | 72% | 67% | 67% | 78% | 79% | 69% | 64% | 72% | 67% | 82% |
| Prefer not to say | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% | <1% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 5% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
The results of the knowledge questions were combined to create an index from 0 to 5, based on the correct number of responses given by youth. The results show a fairly wide range of knowledge, with 15% providing correct answers to all knowledge questions and another 28% correctly answering four of the five questions. On the other end of the spectrum, 10% of youth are unable to correctly answer any of the five knowledge questions. The remainder are fairly evenly split between one and three correct answers (16%, 13% and 18%, respectively).
The level of knowledge varies by age (Chart 56). Generally, youth displayed less knowledge than those who are at least 35 years of age. Among youth target groups, youth who are unemployed are the least politically knowledgeable. Last, voters are more knowledgeable about roles and responsibilities compared to non-voters. There are few differences in knowledge by region.
Chart 56: Index of Overall Knowledge
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | 10% | 12% | 8% | 10% | 2% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 10% | 23% | 3% | 25% |
| One | 16% | 16% | 17% | 15% | 12% | 18% | 19% | 14% | 15% | 20% | 15% | 19% |
| Two | 13% | 13% | 12% | 13% | 10% | 16% | 15% | 9% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 14% |
| Three | 18% | 20% | 19% | 14% | 11% | 17% | 21% | 15% | 19% | 12% | 17% | 20% |
| Four | 28% | 27% | 28% | 30% | 43% | 27% | 21% | 26% | 28% | 16% | 34% | 16% |
| Five | 15% | 12% | 16% | 18% | 22% | 10% | 9% | 22% | 16% | 16% | 20% | 6% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
The results of those who said "Don't know" to the knowledge questions were combined to create an index from 0 to 5, based on the number of "Don't know" responses given (Chart 57). The results show a fairly wide dispersion of the number of "Don't know" responses given, with 24% of youth giving a response other than "Don't know" to all five knowledge questions and another 33% who only answer "Don't know" to one of the questions. At the other end of the spectrum, 10% of youth answer "Don't know" to four (6%) or five (4%) of the questions. One in five (22%) youth give a "Don't know" answer to two questions, while one in ten (11%) give the same response to three of the knowledge questions.
The percentage of giving an answer of "Don't know" decreases with age. Youth are more likely to provide a "Don't know" response to multiple questions than those who are 35+. Among youth target groups, youth who are unemployed provide "Don't know" responses to more questions than other groups do. Last, non-voters are more likely to provide a "Don't know" response than voters are. There are few differences in knowledge by region.
Chart 57: Index of Those Who Answered "Don't Know" to Knowledge Questions
| Youth | 18 to 22 | 23 to 29 | 30 to 34 | 35+ | Rural | Aboriginal | Disabled | Ethnocultural | Unemployed | Voter | Non-voter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | 24% | 19% | 23% | 28% | 29% | 19% | 16% | 21% | 27% | 23% | 28% | 13% |
| One | 33% | 28% | 35% | 36% | 46% | 37% | 35% | 34% | 34% | 28% | 40% | 25% |
| Two | 22% | 26% | 21% | 21% | 17% | 21% | 26% | 24% | 20% | 18% | 20% | 27% |
| Three | 11% | 14% | 12% | 7% | 5% | 12% | 9% | 9% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 14% |
| Four | 6% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 2% | 8% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 9% | 4% | 10% |
| Five | 4% | 6% | 2% | 4% | <1% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 2% | 9% | 1% | 10% |
Base: All respondents (n=3,009).
Return to source of Footnote 1 Visit http://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/home.html.
Return to source of Footnote 2 It is possible that some youth who reported voting at the advance polls in fact voted at one of the 71 Elections Canada satellite offices that opened at select campuses, Friendship Centres and YMCAs from October 5 to 8. More than 70,000 electors voted at these locations, with campus offices experiencing the highest turnout. For details, visit http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/sta_2015&document=p2&lang=e#23.
Return to source of Footnote 3 This question was asked of respondents in two ways to reduce the bias of one choice always being presented first. Half were asked whether voting is first and foremost a duty or a choice, and the other half were asked whether voting was first and foremost a choice or a duty. The analysis shows that asking about choice first produces a higher percentage of responses that voting is a duty.
Return to source of Footnote 4 Multiple responses were accepted as correct, including prime minister of England, British prime minister and prime minister of Great Britain.