A Simon Fraser University professor says there is statistical evidence that the votes of hundreds – perhaps thousands – of non-Conservative supporters were suppressed in last May’s general election by some kind of robocall campaign. Continue reading SFU prof on the evidence of robocall vote suppression
Tag: elections
The Manning campaign manual on voter contact
Today, in the Globe and Mail, there is this “letter to the editor”:
Robo-ethics
In January, 2010, my UVic inbox had an e-mail invite from a democracy centre to attend a campaign school. Intrigued, I signed up for the three-day event. Continue reading The Manning campaign manual on voter contact
MP Maurice Vellacott's theory on robocalls: Could be EC's fault!
Just in from Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott:
March 5, 2012
On the issue of robocalls, as an example, in the 2008 election, my MP and campaign office, had constituents [in Saskatoon-Wanuskewin] phone us from Corman Park north of Saskatoon toward the river, who in systemic fashion, received Elections Canada voter identification cards telling them to vote on the other side of the river in Aberdeen. Not only is that an unreasonably long way to have voters go to cast a ballot, but it’s not even in our Saskatoon-Wanuskewin constituency. Continue reading MP Maurice Vellacott's theory on robocalls: Could be EC's fault!
Press gallery elections: No robocalls involved
Every year, the Parliamentary Press Gallery holds elections for its board of directors and officers. There are, roughly, about 330 members of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery. Full-time membership in the gallery is restricted to professional journalists who spend most or all of their time covering the activities of the Government of Canada and do so on the Parliamentary Precinct. Continue reading Press gallery elections: No robocalls involved
Liberals say harassing phone calls hit voters in 27 ridings
The Liberal Party of Canada this afternoon identified 27 ridings in which it says voters received harassing or threatening phone calls ahead of the general election on May 2, 2011.
Now, in these ridings, the incumbent candidate or party won 21 of 27. In six of these races, the winner won by less than 1,000 votes.
Now, as one of my Twitter followers, an unidentified southern Ontario tweep who goes by the handle revpaperboy , noted “who won the ridings is immaterial, voter suppression by fraud is still antidemocratic and despicable,” a point with which I am in 100 per cent agreement. Still, for your consideration and to put some of this robocall debate in context, here is an annotated list of the ridings identified by the Liberals: Continue reading Liberals say harassing phone calls hit voters in 27 ridings
Where you vote could influence how you vote
Here’s a rather odd and, if you buy it, remarkable suggestion: Those who cast their ballots in a church may tend to vote more conservatively, even if they identify themselves any other day, as progressive or independent voters, a new study says. Continue reading Where you vote could influence how you vote