National Electors Study on the 43rd Canadian Federal General Election: Report on Voter Experience

Prepared for: Elections Canada

June 2020

Supplier name: Phoenix Strategic Perspectives Inc. / Advanis

Contract number: 05005-18-0735

Contract value: $804,353.60 (incl. applicable sales tax)

Award date: April 12, 2019

Delivery date: June 26, 2020

For more information on this report, contact Elections Canada at rop-por@elections.ca.  

Ce rapport est aussi disponible en français.

Phoenix Strategic Perspectives Inc.
1678 Bank Street, Ste. 2
Ottawa, ON K1V 7Y6
www.phoenixspi.ca

This public opinion research report presents the results of the voter experience research conducted to help evaluate the October 21, 2019 federal election.

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:
SE3-114/2-2020E-PDF

International Standard Book Number (ISBN):
978-0-660-35827-7

Related publications:
Catalogue number: SE3-114/2-2020F-PDF (Final report, French)
International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-35828-4

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

Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Étude nationale auprès des électeurs pour la 43e élection générale canadienne – Rapport sur l’expérience des électeurs.

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
  • Background and Objectives
  • Methodology
  • Notes to Readers
• Detailed Findings
  • Attitudes and Past Voting Behaviour
  • Voter Registration
  • Contact with Elections Canada
  • Voter Participation
  • Getting to the Polling Place
  • Experience at the Polling Place
  • Voter Identification
  • Accessible Voting Services
  • Satisfaction with the Voting Process
  • Overall Satisfaction with Elections Canada and the Election
• Profile of Survey Respondents

List of Figures

• Figure 1: Interest in politics
• Figure 2: Is voting a duty or choice?
• Figure 3: Participation in previous elections
• Figure 4: Voting in the 2015 federal general election
• Figure 5: Registration status
• Figure 6: Source of information on registration status
• Figure 7: Registered or updated information during the election
• Figure 8: Ease of registering to vote – expectations versus experience
• Figure 9: Ease of having to register versus updating or checking registration
• Figure 10: Method used to check or update voter registration
• Figure 11: Method of contact with EC during the election period
• Figure 12: Satisfaction with service received from contacting EC
• Figure 13: Satisfaction with EC's website
• Figure 14: Voting intention and participation for the GE
• Figure 15: Reason for not voting – themes
• Figure 16: Reasons for not voting – breakdown
• Figure 17: Method used to vote in the GE
• Figure 18: Went to vote from home, work, or another location
• Figure 19: Voting with others
• Figure 20: Time of the day electors voted – election day
• Figure 21: Time of the day electors voted – advance poll
• Figure 22: Means of transportation used when going to vote
• Figure 23: Time it took to get to the polling place: expected versus actual
• Figure 24: Familiarity of the polling place location
• Figure 25: Ease of entering and accessing the polling place
• Figure 26: Brought VIC to vote
• Figure 27: Time it took to vote – expected versus actual
• Figure 28: Ease of meeting ID requirements: expectations versus experience
• Figure 29: Nature of difficulty encountered proving identity or address
• Figure 30: Awareness of accessible tools and services
• Figure 31: Ease of finding information on accessibility
• Figure 32: Assistance marking ballot
• Figure 33: Satisfaction with assistance received when voting
• Figure 34: Sensitivity of EC staff in regard to elector’s disability
• Figure 35: Satisfaction with services provided by EC staff when voting
• Figure 36: Ease of voting – expectations versus experience
• Figure 37: Satisfaction with overall voting experience
• Figure 38: Perception that EC ran the election fairly
• Figure 39: Trust in the accuracy of the election results in the riding
• Figure 40: Confidence in Canadian institutions
• Figure 41: Confidence in Elections Canada
• Figure 42: Satisfaction with the way democracy works in Canada

• Next