municipal elections handbook

8/11/2019 Municipal Elections Handbook

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Municipal Elections 2014

Engaging Voters

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August 2014


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You know the importance of:

Providing accurate information about the local election, candidates

and voting procedures

Creating opportunities for citizens to engage in non-partisan

dialogue about voting and the elections

Ensuring citizens have opportunities to share information with you

about their election experience

Encouraging increased voter participation

Managing resources eectively in the delivery of fair and non-

partisan elections

As a Chief Elections Ocer, you knowthe importance of engaging citizens and

supporting them in the exercise of their

democratic rights.

Community engagement is a critical

expression of our democratic rights and

responsibilities.

Its election time inBritish Columbia!

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During the 2011 local elections, 29.55% of eligible voters voted in

municipal elections.

In a democratic society, how do we encourage more voters to

participate?

How do we provide information that is accurate and relevant?

CivicInfoBC: http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/Library/Elections/BC_Voter_Turnout%20--%20Elections%20BC%20--2011.pdf

Engaging voters

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What might citizens need to know about your community

during the 2014 municipal elections?

Who is eligible to vote in your community?

Do voters need to register in advance or at the polls?

Where do voters go to vote in your community?

When are advance poll dates and hours?

Are there special qualities or processes unique to your jurisdiction?

Where are the municipal, regional and school board boundaries

and maps?

When are events, such as all-candidates meetings, scheduled inyour community?

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How are citizens currently informed about their local

municipal elections?

Newspaper advertisements

Media coverage

Municipal websites


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What might Chief Elections Ocers want to know from

citizens?

Have citizens registered to vote?

Are communications reaching citizens?

What issues and/or events are resonating with voters?

Have voters expressed concerns regarding the execution of theelections?

Are the elections regulations being followed?

Are there accessibility or other challenges unique to your region

that must be addressed?

Where do citizens direct questions or

complaints?YOU the Chief Elections Ocer

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Do citizens reallywant to know whats

happening?When government and industry consultation professionals were

asked how strongly they agreed that there is an element of apathy

or negativity among citizens towards public engagement today, they

indicated:

When asked what was required in todays consultative and

engagement practices, these same professionals indicated:

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Is there a better wayto support democratic

engagement?

Unlike federal and provincial elections, citizens do not have a single

non-partisan forum for community engagement and information

sharing.

During elections, citizens can benet

from engagement that:

Supports a forum for interacting with

voters and election ocials

Encourages respectful dialogue

Centralizes information sources

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Provides a two-way exchange of information and questions

Is responsive and transparent

Protects personal information

Engages citizens from a shared geographical location in dialogue


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Are there anysolutions out there?

Apparently yes. One of the most powerful forces driving community

engagement forward is the rapid, ongoing development of technology

to facilitate and support interactions, with software applications such

as PlaceSpeak.

Creating an online community of citizens resident in your municipal,

regional or school district allows for an exchange of ideas, questionsand information that is relevant, timely and accurate.

It gives citizens the freedom to choose where and how to engage,

allows governments to plug into a broad spectrum of perspectives

across multiple locations, and even contribute to saving costs as

citizens dont have to commute to meetings and governments.

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Online solutions oer opportunities for citizens to engage in

ways that are:

Accessible they can interact when and where it is convenient for

them

Cost-eective technology solutions save time and money to

reach the broadest community

Transparent they can see the full range of perspectives andissues

Interactive they can engage in real time with fellow citizens and

election ocials

Accurate election ocials can ensure that information reects

local conditions and issues in a timely and culturally appropriatemanner

Non-partisan election ocials can create a community forum

that improves the election experience, while encouraging public

dialogue about issues that matter in your community

Reliable citizens and election ocials need to know that theyare hearing from local voters and not from those from outside

jurisdictions

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What makes goodonline public

engagement?

Trust and PrivacyCitizens need to know that their

personal information will be used only

for election purposes. It will not be sold,shared with candidates, or distributed

inappropriately.

Citizens must be accountable and responsible for their expressions,

but should have the option of remaining anonymous if they wish.

Its only part of the storyOnline engagement allows for a robust and immediate exchange of

perspectives and information.

But not all citizens have equal access.

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First Nations communities, for instance, have varying degree of

access to broadband Internet service throughout the province and

cultural dynamics that inuence their capacity to engage online.

According to the BC Ministry of Labour, Citizens Services and OpenGovernment, 33 First Nations were not expected to have broadband

access by the end of 2012, while 170 or 84% were expected to have

access.

Ministry of Labour, Citizens Services and Open Government, 2011

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According to Statistics Canada, the adoption of Internet use by

Canadians varies. We need to be sensitive to demographic groups,

which may have slower or no rates of technology adoption, when

contemplating the use of technology solutions.

Statistics Canada, 2012


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Candidates

Some of the most important information CEOs will

share with citizens will be the names of candidates

approved to seek elected oce in their community.

For the rst time, local candidates will be subject to

campaign nancing regulations by Elections BC.

Creating a central source for information and

opportunities to ask questions for citizens and

candidates will be important to ensure fair access

to complete and accurate information.

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Elections and the political debate they inspire are an important and

inevitable part of democracy.

The role of CEOs, however, is to ensure a fair and non-partisan

election process.

While it is critical that dierences of opinion be openly articulated, it is

equally critical that CEOs not be drawn into its epicenter.

In many communities, chambers of commerce, local media or

community groups will create forums for the open exchange of ideas

and opportunities for candidates to come together for community

engagement. In some communities, this may not be the case.

CEOs may wish to consider what role, if any, their oce can play

to create opportunities for an open and non-partisan expression of

ideas. Online engagement oers a transparent and accessible forum

for the exchange of ideas amongst citizens within their community.

Elections and politics

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Sustaining onlineengagement

Keeping online engagement robust

can be both exciting and challenging.

The needs of each local community

vary considerably and municipal,

regional and school board electionsare important opportunities to

demonstrate shared interests about

principles and values of culture,

politics, economy and community.

CEOs have a unique opportunity to build relationships and

engagement through schools, libraries, business associations,

community groups, sports teams, senior centres and other groups.

These relationships can be enriched with new opportunities to

interact during the election process.

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Strategy

As each of you prepare for the upcoming municipal elections,

engaging voters is a shared challenge. Developing a strategy thatmaximizes new and old solutions to inspire and support increased

electoral participation could have profound impacts on your

community.

As you contemplate the right mix of information sharing, engagement

and execution, consider the tools that can make a meaningful

dierence.

By engaging and supporting citizens through these important

democratic processes, society benets. It builds a foundation for

future engagement and sets the stage for future generations.

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If you would like information about PlaceSpeak and how it might

support your election management efforts, please contact:

Michelle AucoinEmail: [email protected]

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Next steps

As you contemplate next steps for your

community in the next municipal, regional

and school board elections, check out

PlaceSpeak as one option to engage your

community, increase vote participation and

awareness, and build citizen capacity to

contribute to their community.

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