Post-election Survey of Overseas Citizens, Post-election Survey of Local Election Officials

Post-election Survey of Overseas Citizens, Post-election Survey of Local Election Officials

Overseas Citizens_20080626_web

Post-election Survey of Overseas Citizens, Post-election Survey of Local Election Officials

OMB: 0704-0125

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2008 Post-Election Voting Survey of Overseas Citizens – Web Version (As of 06/26/2008)
7.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.

Were you a U.S. citizen on November 4, 2008?
Yes
No

2.

0

What was your age on November 4, 2008?
17 years old or younger

1

18 to 24 years old

2

25 to 29 years old

3

30 to 34 years old

4

35 to 44 years old

5 or more

45 years old or older

3.

8.

In 2008, were you registered to vote in the
U.S.?
Yes
No

4.

Family members include your spouse and
anyone of voting age (18 years old and older)
who is related to you by blood, marriage, or
adoption, and depends on you for more than
half of their support. Not counting yourself,
how many family members who were at least
18 years old lived with you at your current
residence as of November 4, 2008?

On November 4, 2008, how long had you lived
outside the U.S.?
Less than 1 year

Your legal voting residence is the state where
you last resided immediately prior to your
departure from the U.S. This right extends to
overseas citizens even though they may no
longer own property or have other ties to their
last state of residence and their intent to return
to that state may be uncertain. As of the
November 4, 2008 election, what state or
territory was your legal voting residence?
Please enter the state or territory in the box
below.

1 year to less than 3 years
3 years to less than 6 years
6 years to less than 10 years

2008 ELECTION

10 years or more

5.

On November 4, 2008, in what overseas
country were you residing? Please enter the
name of the country in the box below.

9.

How interested or uninterested were you in the
U.S. elections held on November 4, 2008?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Neither interested nor uninterested

6.

On November 4, 2008, how long had you
resided in this country?

Somewhat uninterested
Very uninterested

Less than 6 months
6 months to less than 1 year
1 year to less than 2 years
2 years to less than 3 years
3 years or more

DMDC

1

10. A lot of people were not able to vote because
they weren't registered, they were sick, they
didn't have time, or something else happened
to prevent them from voting. And sometimes,
people who USUALLY vote or who PLANNED
to vote forget that something UNUSUAL
happened on election day this year that
prevented them from voting THIS time. So
please think carefully for a minute about the
election held on November 4, and past
elections in which you may have voted, and
answer the following questions. During the
past 6 years, did you usually vote in national,
state, and local elections, or did you usually
not vote?
Usually voted
Usually did not vote

11. During the months leading up to the election
held on November 4, did you ever plan to vote
in that election, or didn't you plan to vote?

Yes
j.
k.
l.

The absentee voting process was too
complicated....................................................
I was concerned about federal or state
income tax liability..........................................
Some other reason ........................................

[Ask if Q13 l = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
reason.

14. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely did not vote'] Even
though you did not vote, did you request an
absentee ballot for the November 4, 2008
election?
Yes

Did plan to vote

No, but I automatically received an absentee
ballot from a local election official

Did not plan to vote

No, and I never received an absentee ballot

12. In the election held on November 4, did you
definitely vote in person on election day,
definitely mail or fax a completed absentee
ballot on or before November 4, definitely not
vote, or are you not completely sure whether
you voted in that election?

ABSENTEE BALLOTS
15. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes'] In what month did you first request your
absentee ballot for the November 4, 2008
election?

Definitely voted in person
Definitely voted by mail

July 2008 or earlier

Definitely did not vote

August 2008

Not sure

September 2008
October 2008

13. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely did not vote'] Did you
not vote in the November 4, 2008 election for
the following reasons? Mark Yes or No for
each reason.

November 2008
Do not recall
No

Yes

2

No

a.

I was not interested in voting .........................

b.

I was too busy to vote ....................................

c.

I forgot to vote................................................

d.

I could not register to vote .............................

e.

I had no candidate preference .......................

f.
g.

I did not think my vote would matter ..............
I did not know how to get an absentee
ballot ..............................................................

h.

My absentee ballot arrived too late ................

i.

My absentee ballot did not arrive at all ..........

16. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes'] The Federal Post Card Application
(FPCA) (Standard Form 76) is a request for
registration and a regular (as opposed to backup) absentee ballot. Did you use the FPCA to
request your absentee ballot for the November
4, 2008 election or did you use another
method?
I used the Federal Post Card Application
(FPCA)
I used another method

[Ask if Q16 = 'I used another method'] Please
specify your other method.

DMDC

2008 Post-Election Voting Survey of Overseas Citizens – Web Version (As of 06/26/2008)

17. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q16 = 'I used the FPCA'] Did you
obtain your Federal Post Card Application
(FPCA) to request your regular absentee ballot
for the November 4, 2008 election from any of
the following sources? Mark “Yes” or “No” for
each source listed.

20. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q19 = 'Yes'] When did you receive
your regular absentee ballot for the November
4, 2008 election?
July 2008 or earlier
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008

No

Do not recall

Yes
a.

From the Federal Voting Assistance
Program (FVAP) ............................................

b.

Through military channels..............................

c.
d.

From a U.S. Embassy or consulate ...............
From an overseas organization or
company ........................................................

e.

From a state or local election official..............

f.

Online from the Internet .................................

g.

From a military post office..............................

h.

Some other source ........................................

21. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q19 = 'Yes'] Did you complete and
return your regular absentee ballot for the
November 4, 2008 election?
Yes
No

22. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q19 = 'Yes' and Q21 = 'Yes"] When
did you complete and return your regular
absentee ballot for the November 4, 2008
election?

[Ask if Q17 h = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
source.

July 2008 or earlier
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008

18. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes'] During 2008, did you receive notification
from the local election official in the county/
district where you registered to vote that your
regular absentee ballot request had been
received?
Yes
No
Do not recall

November 2008
Do not recall

23. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes'] The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
(FWAB) (Standard Form 186) is a back-up ballot
completed and returned if you are overseas
and do not receive your regular absentee
ballot. Did you use the FWAB in the November
4, 2008 election?

19. [Ask if Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes'] Did you receive your regular absentee
ballot for the November 4, 2008 election?
Yes
No

Yes
No

24. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q23 = 'Yes'] Did you obtain your
Federal Write-In Application (FWAB) for the
November 4, 2008 election from the following
sources? Mark “Yes” or “No” for each source
listed.
No
Yes
a.

DMDC

From the Federal Voting Assistance
Program (FVAP) Web site..............................

3

VOTING ASSISTANCE

No
Yes
b.

From some other contact with FVAP .............

c.

Through military channels..............................

d.

From a U.S. Embassy or consulate ...............

e.
f.

From a state or local election official..............
From an overseas organization or
company ........................................................

g.

From another non-FVAP Web site.................

h.

From a military post office..............................

i.

Some other source ........................................

[Ask if Q24 i = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
source.

27. Voting Assistance Officers (VAOs) are
designated individuals who provide accurate,
non-partisan voting information and assistance
to citizens who wish to vote. Embassies and
consulates have assigned VAOs to carry out
this responsibility. During 2008, did you
receive voting information or assistance from
an embassy or consulate VAO?
Yes
No

28. [Ask if Q27 = 'Yes'] During 2008, did you
receive the following information or assistance
from your embassy or consulate Voting
Assistance Officer (VAO)? Mark “Yes” or “No”
for each item.
No

25. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q23 = 'Yes'] When did you complete
and return the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
(FWAB) for the November 4, 2008 election?
September 2008

Yes
a.
b.
c.

October 2008
d.
November 2008
Do not recall

26. [Ask if (Q12 = 'Definitely voted by mail' or Q14 =
'Yes') and Q23 = 'No'] What is the ONE MAIN
REASON you did not use the Federal Write-In
Ballot (FWAB) for the November 4, 2008
election? Mark only one.
I did not know about the FWAB
I knew about it, but didn't know how to get one
I knew about it, but could not get one

e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Determining my eligibility to vote ...................
Understanding the absentee voting
process ..........................................................
Obtaining the Federal Post Card
Application (FPCA) ........................................
Completing the Federal Post Card
Application (FPCA) ........................................
Obtaining the Federal Write-In Absentee
Ballot (FWAB) ................................................
Completing the Federal Write-In
Absentee Ballot (FWAB) ................................
Finding information on candidates/issues ......
Electronic transmission of election
materials (i.e., faxing, e-mailing) ....................
Some other voting information or
assistance......................................................

[Ask if Q28 i = 'Yes'] Please specify other
voting information or assistance.

I had difficulty filling it out
I had already returned a regular absentee ballot
Some other reason

[Ask if Q26 = 'Some other reason'] Please
specify your other reason.

29. [Ask if Q27 = 'Yes'] Overall, in 2008, how
satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the
information or assistance you received from
your embassy or consulate Voting Assistance
Officer (VAO)?
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

4

DMDC

2008 Post-Election Voting Survey of Overseas Citizens – Web Version (As of 06/26/2008)
30. [Ask if Q27 = 'No'] Did you not receive voting
information or assistance from your embassy
or consulate Voting Assistance Officer (VAO) in
2008 for any of the following reasons? Mark
“Yes” or “No” for each item.

33. [Ask if Q31 = 'Yes'] Overall, how satisfied or
dissatisfied were you with the Federal Voting
Assistance Program (FVAP) Web site when you
visited it in 2008?
Very satisfied

No

Satisfied

Yes
a.

I did not know I could get information or
assistance from the VAO ...............................

b.

I did not have a VAO......................................

c.

I did not know who my VAO was ...................

d.
e.

I did not know how to contact my VAO ..........
My VAO was not available when I
needed assistance .........................................
My VAO was not helpful when I needed
assistance......................................................
My VAO did not have the materials or
information I needed ......................................
I did not need any voting information or
assistance......................................................

f.
g.
h.

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

34. [Ask if Q31 = 'No'] Did you not visit the Federal
Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Web site in
2008 for any of the following reasons? Mark
“Yes” or “No” for each item.
No
Yes
a.

I did not know about it. ...................................

Some other reason ........................................

b.
c.

[Ask if Q30 i = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
reason.

d.

I did not have Internet access ........................
I knew about it, but did not know the Web
site address....................................................
I got all the information I needed from
other sources .................................................

i.

31. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
Web site, www.fvap.gov provides voting related
information and resources. In preparation for
the 2008 primaries and general election, did
you visit this Web site?
Yes
No

32. [Ask if Q31 = 'Yes'] In preparation for the 2008
primaries and general election, how many
times did you visit the Federal Voting
Assistance Program (FVAP) Web site? Mark
one.

e.

I did not think it would be useful .....................

f.

Some other reason ........................................

[Ask if Q34 f = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
reason.

35. The Department of Defense 2008-09 Voting
Assistance Guide (VAG) provides state-bystate information about registering to vote and
requesting an absentee ballot. In preparation
for the 2008 primaries and general election, did
you refer to the VAG for information about
registering to vote or requesting an absentee
ballot?

One

Yes

Two to four

No

Five to ten
Eleven or more
Do not recall

36. [Ask if Q35 = 'Yes'] Where did you obtain the
2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide (VAG)? Mark
“Yes” or “No” for each item.
No
Yes
a.
b.
c.

DMDC

From the embassy or consulate Voting
Assistance Officer (VAO) ...............................
From the Federal Voting Assistance
Program (FVAP) Web site..............................
From another Web site on the Internet ..........

5

No
Yes
d.

From a CD ROM............................................

e.

Some other source ........................................

39. [Ask if Q35 = 'No'] Did you not use the 2008-09
Voting Assistance Guide (VAG) for any of the
following reasons? Mark “Yes” or “No” for
each item.
No
Yes

[Ask if Q36 d = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
source.

37. [Ask if Q35 = 'Yes'] During 2008, were you
looking for the following information in the
2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide (VAG)? Mark
“Yes” or “No” for each item.

a.

I did not know about it ....................................

b.
c.

I knew about it, but could not get a copy........
I got all the information I needed from
another source...............................................

d.

Some other reason ........................................

[Ask if Q39 d = 'Yes'] Please specify your other
reason.

No
Yes
a.

How to register and vote absentee ................

b.
c.

Dates of elections and deadlines ...................
How to fill out the Federal Post Card
Application (FPCA) for your state ..................
Mailing address for Federal Post Card
Application (FPCA) or ballot ..........................
How to transmit the Federal Post Card
Application (FPCA) or voted ballot by fax ......
How to use the Federal Write-In
Absentee Ballot (FWAB)................................

d.
e.
f.
g.

Web site addresses .......................................

h.

Where to go for help ......................................

i.

Other type of voting related information.........

40. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
provides a toll-free telephone service from
many countries that allows a caller to ask FVAP
staff for voting information or assistance. Did
you use this service to talk with a FVAP staff
member in 2008?
Yes
No

41. [Ask if Q40 = 'Yes'] Overall, how satisfied or
dissatisfied were you with the assistance you
received in 2008 when you called the Federal
Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) toll-free
telephone service?
Very satisfied

[Ask if Q37 i = 'Yes'] Please specify the other
type of voting related information.

Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Dissatisfied

38. [Ask if Q35 = 'Yes'] Overall, how would you rate
the 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide (VAG) as
a reference on absentee voting procedures?
Excellent
Very good
Good

Very dissatisfied

42. [Ask if Q40 = 'No'] Did you not use the Federal
Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) toll-free
telephone service in 2008 for any of the
following reasons? Mark “Yes” or “No” for
each item.
No

Fair
Yes

Poor
a.
b.
c.
d.

6

I did not know about it ....................................
I knew about it, but I did not know what it
was for ...........................................................
I knew about it, but I did not know the
telephone number ..........................................
I got all the information I needed from
other sources .................................................

DMDC

2008 Post-Election Voting Survey of Overseas Citizens – Web Version (As of 06/26/2008)
No
Yes
e.

I did not need it ..............................................

f.

It was a long-distance call..............................

g.
h.

I could not get through ...................................
A toll-free number is not available in my
country of residence ......................................

i.

44. If you used any of the following sources of
voting information in 2008, how useful was
each one? Mark one answer for each item.
Not available
Did not use
Not at all useful
Not very useful

Some other reason ........................................

Somewhat useful

[Ask if Q42 i = 'Some other reason'] Please
specify your other reason.

Useful
Very useful
a.

OTHER SOURCES OF VOTING INFORMATION
43. If you received voting information from any of
the following sources in 2008, how satisfied or
dissatisfied were you with the information?
Mark one answer for each item.
Not available
Did not use

b.
c.

d.
e.

Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
f.
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Satisfied
Very satisfied
a.
b.

c.
d.

e.

U.S. Embassy
or consulate ...........
Other Federal
agency/
agencies ................
Political
organizations .........
Other private
organization or
company ................
State or local
election official .......

g.

Voting
Information
News (VIN)
newsletters.............
Voting News
Releases ................
“It's your Future.
VOTE for it!” or
“Road Sign”
motivational
posters ...................
Election dates
chart .......................
How To Do It!
Absentee Voting
Frequently
Asked
Questions...............
Federal Voting
Assistance
Program (FVAP)
Web site/CD
ROM training..........
“Get Out the
Vote” public
service ad
campaign ...............

45. If you used the following sources to obtain any
kind of voting information in 2008, how useful
was each one? Mark one answer for each item.
Not available
Did not use
Not at all useful
Not very useful
Somewhat useful
Useful
Very useful
a.

DMDC

Local television,
radio and print
media .....................

7

Not available
Did not use
Not at all useful

47. Some states allow you to e-mail voting
materials such as your absentee ballot request
or the completed ballot itself. During 2008, did
you e-mail any of the following materials?
Mark “Yes” or “No” for each item.
No

Not very useful
Yes

Somewhat useful
Useful

a.
b.

Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) ..........
Non-Federal Post Card Application
(FPCA) request for absentee ballot ...............

c.

Ballot..............................................................

d.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) .....

e.

Other voting materials....................................

Very useful
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

CNN
International...........
Armed Forces
Radio/TV................
International
Herald Tribune .......
USA Today
International...........
Other U.S.
civilian
newspapers,
magazines,
radio, or TV............

g.

Family or friends ....

h.

The Internet ...........

[Ask if Q47 e = 'Yes'] Please specify other
voting materials.

2006 ELECTION
48. Elections for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of
Representatives were held in 2006. A lot of
respondents did not get to vote because they
weren't registered, they were sick, or they just
didn't have time. How about you -- did you
vote in that election?

ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VOTING
MATERIALS
46. Some states allow you to fax voting materials
such as your absentee ballot request or the
completed ballot itself. During 2008, did you
fax any of the following materials? Mark one
answer for each item.

Yes
No
Do not recall
No

Yes, but not using the FVAP toll-free faxing
service
Yes, using the FVAP toll-free faxing service
a.
b.

Federal Post Card Application
(FPCA)...................................................
Non-Federal Post Card Application
request for absentee ballot ....................

c.
d.

Ballot......................................................
Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
(FWAB)..................................................

e.

Other voting materials............................

[Ask if Q46 e = 'Yes'] Please specify the other
voting materials.

8

49. [Ask if Q48 = 'Yes'] How did you vote in the
November 2006 election?
I voted in person
I voted by absentee ballot
Do not recall

COMMENTS
50. In the space below, please provide any
comments you have about this questionnaire,
the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP),
or the absentee voting process in 2008.

DMDC


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