Annual REPORT - Elections Manitoba

Your Power to Choose – Elections Manitoba’s education program
Elections Manitoba’s education program, Your Power to Choose, saw a high level of activity in the
election period. A key component of the program is the delivery of facilitated in-class workshops
to students in all grades, as well as adult learners across the province. In the 75-day period
leading up to the election, seven facilitators conducted 85 workshops for 1,775 students and
adult learners in 31 electoral divisions in the province. Workshop participants are engaged in all
aspects of the democratic process, beginning with an overview of electoral history in Manitoba,
through the creation of a voters list, the development of their own political campaign and, finally,
a mock election.
Student Information Officers
With the support of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents, Elections Manitoba
recruited approximately 300 grade 11 and 12 students throughout the province to work as
Student Information Officers (SIOs) on election day. The objective of the SIO project was to
promote participation and build awareness of the electoral process among first-time and future
voters, while providing a paid employment opportunity. On election day, SIOs were at work in
47 of the province’s 57 electoral divisions. Returning Officers, voting officials and the students
themselves rated the experience very highly.
Public Inquiry
As in past elections, a team of call centre staff were recruited to respond to public phone inquiries
received at Elections Manitoba headquarters between the start of enumeration, July 21, and
election day. All calls were tracked through the inquiry log. In total, staff responded to over 8,000
calls, including 1,178 on election day, providing service in both official languages. Manitoba
Government Inquiry (MGI) provided back up to the call centre beginning on writ day, Sept. 6,
through election day.
Complaints
A complaints officer based at headquarters responded to concerns received from the public and
other stakeholders. Complaints were received by phone, fax, mail and email and all were tracked
through the inquiry log. In total, 477 complaints were received over the 75-day period of the 40th
General Election with 85 received on election day. This compares to 270 received in the previous
election over a period of only 33 days.
In most cases, responses were provided within 24 hours, unless research was required to provide
a full resolution of the complaint. In the latter case, the complainant was notified by phone
within 24 hours to advise them that their concern was being addressed and follow-up would
be forthcoming. The most common topic of complaint was related to enumeration, followed by
voting day issues, employment and phone calls from political parties.
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