Narrative Report – Survey of Candidates of the 43rd Federal General Election

Prepared for Elections Canada

Supplier: EKOS Research Associates Inc.

Contract Number: 05005-18-0803

Contract Value: $59,244.09 (including HST)

Award Date: April 2019

Delivery Date: April 30, 2020

Ce rapport est également offert en français.

This public opinion research report presents the results of a survey conducted to measure candidates’ levels of satisfaction with Elections Canada’s services during the 43rd general election and learn about their experiences with the electoral process in general.

This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from Elections Canada. For more information on this report, contact Elections Canada at rop-por@elections.ca.

Catalogue number:
SE3-111/2020E-PDF

International Standard Book Number (ISBN):
978-0-660-34991-6

Related publications: Narrative Report, French
Catalogue number: SE3-111/2020F-PDF
International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-34992-3

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Prime Minister of Canada, 2020.

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
  1. Background and Objectives
  2. Methodology
  3. Key Findings
  4. Note to Readers
  5. Political Neutrality Certification
• Detailed Findings
  1. Overall Experiences
  2. Nomination Process and Sources of Difficulty
  3. The Portal
  4. Elections Canada Products and Services
  5. The Campaign
  6. Voting Process
  7. Technology and Elections
  8. Canadian Democracy
  9. Sample Characteristics
• Appendices
  1. Letter from the CEO to the Candidates
  2. Pretest Report
  3. Questionnaire
  4. Methodology details – Response Rate
  5. New 4-Point Satisfaction Scale Questions

List of Tables

• Table 1: Reasons for Dissatisfaction with Returning Officer’s Performance
• Table 2: Reasons Compliance Was Not Easy
• Table 3: Difficulties Finding an Official Agent
• Table 4: Difficulties Finding an Auditor
• Table 5: Reasons for Using the Portal
• Table 6: Reasons for Not Using the Portal
• Table 7: Elections Canada Products and Services Used
• Table 8: Products not Useful
• Table 9: All Candidates Briefing
• Table 10: Provision of List of Election Staff
• Table 11: Protection of Personal Information
• Table 12: Accessibility Measures
• Table 13: Awareness and Impact of Financial Incentives
• Table 14: Reasons for Dissatisfaction with the Voting Process
• Table 15: Reasons for Dissatisfaction with Polling Site Locations
• Table 16: Voter Identification Requirements
• Table 17: Voter Information Card
• Table 18: Suggestions for Improvements to EC Services
• Table 19: Computer Lists and Machine Counting
• Table 20: Reasons for Dissatisfaction with the Way Democracy Works
• Table 21: Key Sample Characteristics
• Table 22: Satisfaction (4 Points)

List of Charts

• Chart 1: Satisfaction with Administration of Election
• Chart 2: Satisfaction with Quality of EC Services
• Chart 3: Satisfaction with Returning Officers’ Performance
• Chart 4: Satisfaction with Interactions with the Returning Officer
• Chart 5: Perceived Fairness
• Chart 6: Perceived Trust
• Chart 7: Ease of Complying with Nomination Requirements
• Chart 8: Satisfaction with Timeliness of Processing Nomination Papers
• Chart 9: How Informed Candidates Felt About EC Nomination Process
• Chart 10: Use of the Portal
• Chart 11: Experiences with the Portal
• Chart 12: Satisfaction with the Portal
• Chart 13: Most Useful Format of Polling Station Lists
• Chart 14: Satisfaction with Quality of List of Electors
• Chart 15: Useful Communication Tools
• Chart 16: Format of Polling Place Maps
• Chart 17: Satisfaction with the Event Map Viewer
• Chart 18: Usefulness of Elections Canada Products in the Campaign
• Chart 19: Use of 1-800 Support Line
• Chart 20: Satisfaction with the 1-800 Support Line
• Chart 21: Contacted or Visited an Elections Canada Local Office
• Chart 22: Satisfaction with Local Office
• Chart 23: Satisfaction with Voting Process
• Chart 24: Satisfaction with Location of Polling Sites
• Chart 25: Frequency of Problems with Voter Identification Requirements
• Chart 26: Frequency of Problems with Voter Information Card
• Chart 27: Perceived Spread of False Information, Foreign Influence and Interference
• Chart 28: Impact of Perceived Spread of False Information and Foreign Influence
• Chart 29: Online Voting
• Chart 30: Perceived Risk of Online Voting
• Chart 31: Satisfaction with Democracy in Canada
• Chart 32: Lowering the Voting Age
• Chart 33: Including More Women

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