Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Identifying Challenges And Advantages Of Internet Voting And Assessing The Impact On Voters Turnout In Municipal Elections, Abdul Katawazy

MPA Major Research Papers

The paper identifies obstacles, opportunities, and more significant potential for elections through e-voting. The study uses litterateur review and statistical data assessments of e-voting in Ontario municipal elections to identify the impacts of e-voting on voter turnout. The research's anticipated findings show e-voting presents substantial challenges for governments, including privacy and data protection and constantly updating policies to keep up with evolving technologies. The challenges must be addressed while maintaining voters' privacy and trust in the voting processes. The research provides literature and recommendations for further research on e-voting in the municipalities that will support developing a strategy ensuring a …

“Analysing The Gap” If And What Is Causing The Gap In Voter Turn Out Between National And Local Elections, Max Rubin

MPA Major Research Papers

Local governments touch citizens’ lives every day. They build and repair the roads we drive on. They pick up our garbage and recycling that we place on our curbs. They build and maintain green space and ensure water comes from our taps. Each day a citizen in a municipality relies on a feature of their local government works. In contrast, our federal government is remote. They deal with national issues such as the environment, defence, and fisheries. They work on global, not local, agreements and relationships with other national governments. Yes, they set out income tax and regulations, but for …

Maximizing Electoral Participation: How Accessibility And Outreach Factors Impact Electoral Participation In Online Elections, Christopher Casale

MPA Major Research Papers

Online voting in Canadian municipalities has proven to result in at least some moderate increase in the number of individuals participating in a given election. What is less apparent is how the implementation of these voting solutions affects voter turnout. This paper seeks to answer the question, what accessibility and outreach factors maximize voter turnout in online elections. This text will analyze six Ontario municipalities who have implemented internet voting for the first time in 2018. Assessing the effectiveness of their voter engagement strategies for that election period.

Political Practice: The Career Mobility And Ambitions Of Local Councillors, Rachel Nauta

MPA Major Research Papers

This research project explores the career ambitions of local politicians to seek office at higher levels of government. Testing theories from existing political ambition research in other jurisdictions, the paper explores factors of political ambition in Ontario through a survey of first-time local councillors and an archival study of past multi-level political careers. Success in politics can follow many paths, but results from the survey indicate that councillors who were younger, male, extraverted, and involved in partisan political activities were more likely to have ambitions for higher office. Further, while American political careers tend to move upward from local to …

Where Have All The Local Politicians Gone? A Preliminary Examination Of Causes And Impacts Of Acclamation In Canada’S Municipal Governments, Sheena Earl

MPA Major Research Papers

Why are local government acclamations so common, and is it a problem for municipal democracy? This paper provides a preliminary examination of local uncontested elections through the exploration of various opinions and arguments raised on this topic. Since the academic literature on acclamations at the local level is extremely sparse, information was gathered through a content analysis of online newspaper articles and by performing interviews with current mayors from some of the most and least competitive municipalities following the 2018 election cycle. The following eight reasons for the occurrence of acclamations are referenced in the non-academic literature, many of which …

Factors Influencing The Likelihood Of Women Winning Elections, Natalie Browning

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study analyzes variables that increase the likelihood of women winning an election for the United States Congress spanning from 1970 to 2020. This study analyzes the relationship between how liberal the United States is and the likelihood of women winning elections. A dependent relationship was found between the level of liberalism rising in the US and women winning elections. Some of this study is also used to analyze a possible relationship between women being more likely to win open seats or those with incumbents seeking reelection. A possible relationship was found between those two variables, but it was decided …

Held To Account? An Analysis Of Political Accountability In Ontario’S Municipal Sector, David W. Arbuckle

MPA Major Research Papers

This exploratory research paper looks at the current political accountability framework at the municipal level in Ontario, which consists of a mandatory requirement for council code of conduct and access to an integrity commissioner. The literature review defines political accountability, both generally and within the Ontario municipal context, and outlines the historical beginnings, role and challenges with council codes of conduct and integrity commissioners. To answer the research question, “Does hiring an integrity commissioner improve political accountability at the municipal level in Ontario?” a detailed analysis of municipal council decision related to integrity commissioner investigations and recommendations, as well as …

Ontario Municipal Voters’ List Reform Project, Paul Wilton

MPA Major Research Papers

Voter turnout has been declining in Canadian elections at all three levels of government, raising questions about the quality of Canadian democracy. This trend is believed to be pronounced at the municipal level, but some academics, local governments, and professional organizations believe its true extent is unknown because municipal voters’ lists in Ontario may not be as accurate as provincial and federal lists This research paper assesses this claim and provides recommendations for reform. The literature review examines the potential implications of inaccurate voters’ lists. First, inaccurate voters’ lists may pose threats to municipal clerks’ ability to conduct free and …

Measuring The Fiscal Impact Of At-Large Versus Ward-Based Political Representation In Ontario Municipalities, Alysha Faria

MPA Major Research Papers

This research report analyzes whether Ontario municipalities with ward-based electoral systems spend more per capita than those with at-large elections. American literature suggests that ward-based municipalities spend more because of log-rolling and politicians' greater responsiveness to neighbourhood electorates. The analysis considerd per-capita expenditures for all Ontario municipalities in the year 2011. Operating and capital expenditures were analyzed separately, as were lower-tier, single-tier, and upper-tier municipalities. Contrary to expectations, ward municipalities spend less per capita than at-large ones on average, however the difference between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant when controlling for municipality type, municipal population …

Should The Niagara Region Chair Be Directly Elected?, Michael Genova

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper explores the merits of directly-elected heads of council versus appointed heads of council in Ontario’s upper-tier regional governments with a specific focus on the Niagara Region. A comparative literature review of academic papers and government publications was undertaken, principally by examining the local government reforms introduced by the Blair government in English municipalities, namely the creation of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the position of Mayor of London. Based on the literature review, four separate theories were developed in favour of directly-elected heads of council: improved voter turnout; improved calibre of candidates standing for office; enhanced soft …

The Effectiveness Of Using A Public-Private-Partnership Model For Urban Rail Transit: The Vancouver Case, Jie Bian

MPA Major Research Papers

In recent years, public-private partnerships, which are commonly referred to as PPPs or P3s, have become increasingly popular in Canada. Within the context of public transit, PPPs involve the private sector designing, building, financing, and operating the facilities. This paper analyzes the potential benefits of P3s based on an in-depth case study of public transportation investment in Greater Vancouver. It compares a DBFO (design-build-finance-operate) project and two non-DBFO projects in Metro Vancouver using the three variables of efficiency, fulfillment of original purposes, and procedural transparency. Ultimately, there were very few apparent merits of PPPs in the Vancouver case and the …

Assessing The Theory Of Demographics As Destiny & Patterns Of Bloc Voting In The United States, Nathan Benjamin Susman

Senior Projects Spring 2016

By 2044, it is predicted that America will be a majority-minority country-- that is, a plurality of minorities will begin to outnumber white people. Some suggest that this demographic trend suggests the demise of the Republican party, thanks to their historical paucity of support amongst minority communities. This has been deemed the "Demographics as Destiny" theory. This paper argues that the theory of "Demographics as Destiny is based on four assumptions:

1) that the population of minority communities will continue to grow by leaps and bounds;

2) that minorities will soon register to vote and cast ballots in proportion to …

Transitioning The Canadian Democratic System Into The Era Of Digital Governance: A Longitudinal Study Of First Time Online Voting And Voter Turnout In Ontario Municipalities, Chris Bantock

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the relationship between online voting and voter turnout rates in Ontario municipalities. It uses a longitudinal research design to collect election data from municipalities that used online voting for the first time in 2014, which is compared to election data from the 2010 Ontario municipal elections, and it also uses a survey that was administered to the Clerks Department of randomly selected municipalities. The findings reveal a statistically proven relationship between online voting and increased voter turnout in Ontario municipalities.

Beyond Elections: Ghana's Democracy From The Perspective Of The Citizenry, Ransford Osafo-Danso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ghana's democracy has been hailed by scholars, practitioners, and the international community in recent years as a shining example in the West African subregion as a result of the country's record of organizing successive elections with minimal or no violence. However, the evaluation of Ghana's democracy has predominantly focused on the elections and disproportionately captures the views of the political elite; conspicuously missing is the perspective of the ordinary Ghanaian. This presents an incomplete picture of Ghana's democracy, given the relevance of citizens' participation in democratic societies. To address this gap in knowledge, this qualitative case study explored the practice …

Visible Minorities: What Individual Characteristics Determine Electoral Success In Municipal Councils In The Greater Toronto Area?, Guhad Hersi

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the extent to which individual characteristics contribute to electoral success in the municipal context with a particular focus on visible minority (VM) candidates in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It uses a cross-sectional study approach to test four hypotheses: if the VM candidate was born in Canada, he/she is more likely to have electoral success; if the VM candidate has previous political experience, he/she is more likely to be elected to a municipal council; if the VM candidate has a political mentor, he/she is more likely to have electoral success; and if the VM candidate runs for …

How Communication Design Motivates Voter Participation: Comparing Instrumental Vs. Social Rhetoric, Lindsay Pryor

MAIS Projects and Theses

This written defense of my degree project describes how l used contemporary communication design theory to develop postcards for the Office of the Washington Secretary of State urging voter registration before the 2013 General Election deadline. In addition to measuring the overall effectiveness of the postcards, this project evaluated the registration and turnout differences between two treatments in a study funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The aim of the study was to add to the small but growing body of interdisciplinary research concerning communication design and voter participation. To determine which communication design techniques motivate more postcard recipients to …

No Choice But To Change: An Investigation Into The History And Effects Of The 2006 Municipal Ward Boundary Realignment In London, Ontario, Stephen Turner

MPA Major Research Papers

In 2005, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) responded to a citizen petition in London, Ontario by imposing significantly changed municipal wards for the 2006 municipal election, focusing on the concept of communities of interest in setting the new electoral boundaries. This paper examines the effects of ward realignment to determine personal attitudes on the effects of the change. Interviews with 14 civically involved Londoners were conducted, in addition to an analysis of voter turnout, campaign expense, municipal budget, and neighbourhood demographic data over 10 years to identify any patterns that may have arisen. The findings reveal that municipal government improved …

Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committees: A Review And Critical Analysis, Ashley Grigg

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the municipal election compliance audit committee (CAC) process and the practical application of legislative parameters. It undertakes a descriptive analysis of the CAC process using four cases – each having resulted in an appeal to the Ontario Court of Justice – and ultimately puts forward an argument for legislative review. The findings reveal that there are conflicting legislative interpretations concerning the function and powers of CACs, demonstrating the need for increased statutory clarity regarding the committee’s authority and purpose.

The Political Business Cycle In Ontario: An Empirical Analysis Of Financial And Demographic Data Across Medium To Large-Sized Ontario Municipalities, Robert Mcgarva

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether there was a political business cycle in Ontario municipalities from 2000 to 2006. An analysis of the top 70 lower- or single-tier municipalities by population was conducted based on financial and employment data obtained from the Ontario Financial Information Return and Municipal Performance Measurement Program websites, in addition to Statistics Canada. The findings reveal that there is weak evidence for the existence of a political business cycle in Ontario municipalities between 2000 and 2006.

A Study Of The 2006 Municipal Elections In Ontario Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Campaign Period And Campaign Spending Of Incumbent Mayors And Their Bids To Be Re-Elected, Wendell Graves

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the 2006 municipal elections in Ontario and the manner in which individual mayoral candidates, including incumbent mayors, exercised the length of their campaign period, as well as the amount of money that the candidates spent during their pursuit of office. A case study of municipal elections in 10 municipalities – Barrie, Belleville, Caledon, Innisfil, Milton, Oshawa, Quinte West, Sarnia, St. Thomas, and Waterloo – was undertaken, wherein five of the incumbent mayors were re-elected and five were defeated. The findings generally support the hypothesis that incumbent mayors who maximize the length of their campaign period while spending …

Electoral Cycles In Ontario Municipalities: Does Election Proximity Make Local Politicians More Competitive?, Mathew Daley

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether an electoral cycle is present in Ontario municipal governments and whether the proximity of an election causes municipal councillors to become more competitive. An analysis of 18,675 municipal council votes between 2003 and 2006 was conducted for the following municipalities: Ottawa, Hamilton, Brampton, London, Markham, Vaughan, Windsor, and Kitchener. The findings reveal a positive correlation between time and competition in three-quarters of the observed municipal councils, indicating the presence of an electoral cycle in Ontario.

Municipal Voter Turn-Out In Ontario: An Analysis Of Community Theories And Their Application To A Prescription For Higher Voter Turn-Out In Municipal Elections, Stephen Chait

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines voter turnout as a proxy for civic engagement by applying the analytical lenses of Robert Putnam’s social capital theory and Richard Florida’s creative capital theory to test critical assumptions regarding the impact of size (population), diversity (immigration), creativity (education and employment), and mobility (length of residency) on voter turnout. A sample of 30 Ontario urban municipalities was analyzed based on data from the 2006 Census. The findings reveal that there is a negative correlation between voter turnout and population size and density; a negative correlation between voter turnout and non-official mother tongue and immigrant status; a negative …

Women In Municipal Politics: Barriers To Participation, Carol Down

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the barriers to participation that women face when attempting to enter municipal politics based on a review of the programs and recommendations made by three initiatives that have been developed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Equal Voice, and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities to increase the number of women in municipal government. The findings reveal that the barriers to participation can only be removed through major political and cultural changes and the deterrents to equal participation, such as systemic discrimination, sexism, power gender imbalances, and the marginalization of women and minorities, must be addressed …

Community & Political Participation Of Municipal Employees: An Analysis Of The Community And Political Participation Of Municipal Employees In The City Of London, Jennifer Harmer

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the types of community and political participation municipal employees favour and the effect of political activity regulations on participation based on a survey administered to public service employees in the City of London. The findings reveal that many municipal employees consider themselves to have a high amount of discretion in their duties and the commitment to public service transcends the workplace and translates into exceptional levels of participation in the community, but many are reluctant to engage in overt forms of political participation.