SURVEY OF UOCAVA  VOTERS

Facilitating UOCAVA Voting Conference

September 22, 2007

University of California, Washington Center 

Sponsored by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

PURPOSE OF SURVEY
        - TO OBTAIN PERCEPTIONS OF OVERSEAS VOTERS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF VOTING ABROAD
        - TO GET THEIR EVALUATIONS OF DIFFERENT BALLOT TRANSMISSION METHODS
        - TO ASSESS OTHER POTENTIAL VOTING CONCERNS SUCH AS PRIVACY 

SURVEY SAMPLE
        - A 55 QUESTION SURVEY INSTRUMENT ADMINISTERED BETWEEN DEC 2006  AND APRIL 2007
        - A FOUR STATE SAMPLE (MT, SC, FL,ILL) WITH 1603 RESPONSES
        - A SUPPLEMENTAL POOL OF 4166 OBTAINED WITH ASSISTANCE OF VOTING ASSISTANCE OFFICERS
        - RESPONSE RATE EMAILED/MAILED WAS 13% AND FOR ONLINE WAS 20%

SAMPLE CHARACTERSITICS
        - COMBINED SAMPLE INCLUDE ELIGIBLE VOTERS FROM 50 STATE AND 132 COUNTRIES
        - THE FOUR STATE SAMPLE IS MORE MILITARY (47%), YOUNGER, AND LIVED OVERSEAS FOR SHORTER PERIOD
        - THERE IS LITTLE OF NO DIFFERENCE IN AGE, EDUCATION OR GENDER BETWEEN SAMPLES
        - FINDINGS ARE MOSTLY SIMILAR IN BOTH SAMPLES 

RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION 
        - 71% of all respondents and 87% of the four state sample were satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the process of obtaining and casting a ballot
        - About 18% tried to vote but did not complete the process
        - 89% found the ballot easy or somewhat easy to complete
        - 92% said that they would use the same method of sending in their ballots again

But Some Important Variations
        - Controlling for other factors, non-military voters were less likely to vote, and were more likely to express dissatisfaction with both receiving and sending a ballot
        - Older, more experienced and better educated voters had more success 
        - Citizens in non-OECD nations had more difficulty with voting and the transmission of voting materials.

Table 2: 2006 Voting Experience, by Voter Type
| Did you vote in 2006?              |
|------------------------------------|
| Respondent Type:                   | Yes | No | No, but tried | Total |
| Spouse/dependent of service member | 92.0%219 | 5.9%14 | 2.1%5 | 100%238 |
| Uniformed service member           | 82.6%817 | 11.2%111 | 6.2%61 | 100%989 |
| U.S. citizen abroad permanently    | 49.5%1,481 | 30.4%908 | 20.1%603 | 100.0%2,992 |
| U.S. citizen abroad temporarily    | 41.6%642 | 34.4%532 | 24.0%371 | 100.0%1,545 |
||
| Total Number                       | 3,159 | 1,565 | 1,040 | 5,764 |

USE OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION STILL LOW
        -  27% in the four state sample downloaded the blank reg form from a website or filled out the form online
        -  8% faxed or emailed the reg/ballot request form back
        -  4% received their ballots from Fax or email
        -  3% sent their ballots back by FAX or email
        -  89% were using electronic transmission for the first time                                                                                                                                                  

SATISFACTION WITH ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
        - The numbers are small but the satisfaction levels are high with electronic transmission of materials (i.e. 77%)
        - Over 95% said that they would use the same form of electronic transmission
        - 77% found the electronic transmission method to be either easy or somewhat easy
        - 30% were asked to give up their right to private vote but only 1/3 of those had concerns about that

Table 4: Ease of Method, by Electronic Transmission of Voted Ballot

Note: One person reported internet fax of a ballot and reported it as “somewhat difficult.” One person reported internet fax of a ballot & original ballot by mail and reported it as “easy.”
| How would you rate the ease-of-use of this way of sending in your voted ballot? |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                                                         | Easy | Somewhat Easy | Neither | Somewhat Difficult | Difficult | Total |
| Email                                                                           | 71.4%15 | 9.5%2 | 14.3%3 | 4.8%1 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%21 |
| Fax                                                                             | 57.1%36 | 25.4%16 | 8.0%5 | 4.8%3 | 4.8%3 | 100.0%63 |
| Email & original ballot                                                     | 35.0%7 | 40.0%8 | 15.0%3 | 10.0%2 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%20 |
| Fax & original ballot                                                       | 31.0%13 | 26.2%11 | 19.1%8 | 23.8%10 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%42 |

Table 3: Perception of Security, by Blank Ballot Delivery Method
| Was the way you received the ballot secure? |
|---------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                     | Very Secure | Secure | Neutral | Insecure | Very Insecure | Total |
| Email                                       | 39.5%47 | 40.3%48 | 14.3%17 | 3.4%4 | 2.5%3 | 100.0%119 |
| Courier, certified, express mail            | 38.0%27 | 36.6%26 | 17.0%12 | 5.6%4 | 2.8%2 | 100.0%71 |
| Military Postal Service                     | 25.1%51 | 53.7%109 | 16.3%33 | 3.9%8 | 1.0%2 | 100.0%203 |
| Downloaded via DOD IVAS                     | 21.7%5 | 47.8%11 | 21.7%5 | 8.7%2 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%23 |
| Regular Mail                                | 16.7%429 | 42.8%1,100 | 27.7%711 | 9.9%255 | 3.0%76 | 100.0%2,571 |
| Fax                                         | 0.0%0 | 20.0%1 | 40.0%2 | 40.0%2 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%5 |

Table 8: Security Concerns, by Method of Transmission of Voted Ballot
| How did you feel about security of your vote?           |
|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                                 | Concern | Some Concern | Neutral | Little Concern | No Concern | Don’t Know | Total |
| Email                                                   | 18.2% | 22.7% | 18.2% | 13.6% | 27.3% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Email & original ballot                             | 4.6% | 40.9% | 22.7% | 18.2% | 13.6% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Fax                                                     | 14.3% | 17.5% | 23.8% | 15.9% | 28.6% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Fax & original ballot                               | 8.9% | 33.3% | 24.4% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 2.2% | 100.0% |
| Internet fax                                            | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Internet fax & original ballot                      | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Regular mail                                            | 7.9% | 22.3% | 19.8% | 12.8% | 36.3% | 0.9% | 100.0% |
| Courier, certified, express mail                        | 13.3% | 26.3% | 20.1% | 13.7% | 24.8% | 1.8% | 100.0% |
| Military Postal Service                                 | 6.3% | 16.0% | 18.5% | 12.6% | 46.1% | 0.5% | 100.0% |
| Embassy, consulate mail pouch                           | 9.1% | 18.2% | 19.6% | 15.4% | 35.7% | 2.1% | 100.0% |
| Dropped off or voted at local election office in the US | 7.2% | 7.2% | 18.6% | 9.3% | 56.7% | 1.0% | 100.0% |

Table 7: Future Method Use, by Method of Transmission of Voted Ballot
| Would you use the sending method again? |
|-----------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                 | Yes | No | Total |
| Email                                   | 95.5% | 4.5% | 100.0% (22 people) |
| Email & original ballot             | 95.5% | 4.5% | 100.0% (22 people) |
| Fax                                     | 85.5% | 14.5% | 100.0% (62 people) |
| Fax & original ballot               | 90.9% | 9.1% | 100.0% (44 people) |
| Internet fax                            | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% (1 person) |
| Internet fax & original ballot      | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% (2 people) |
| Regular mail                            | 94.7% | 5.2% | 100.0% (2,196 people) |
| Courier, certified, express mail        | 86.1% | 13.9% | 100.0% (280 people) |
| Military Postal Service                 | 96.1% | 3.9% | 100.0% (203 people) |
| Embassy, consulate mail pouch           | 90.7% | 9.3% | 100.0% (140 people) |
| Dropped off or voted in person          | 77.5% | 22.5% | 100.0% (80 people) |

Table 5: Satisfaction, by Electronic Transmission of Voted Ballot

Note: One person reported sending ballot by internet fax and indicated they were “somewhat satisfied” with that method.  One person reported sending ballot by internet fax & original by mail and indicated they were “satisfied” with that method.
| How would you rate the ease-of-use of this way of sending in your voted ballot? |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                                                         | Satisfied | Somewhat Satisfied | Neutral | Somewhat Dissatisfied | Dissatisfied | Total |
| Email                                                                           | 65.0%13 | 20.0%4 | 10.0%2 | 0.0%0 | 5.0%1 | 100.0%20 |
| Fax                                                                             | 61.3%38 | 12.9%8 | 11.3%7 | 9.7%6 | 4.8%3 | 100.0%62 |
| Email & original ballot                                                     | 40.0%8 | 30.0%6 | 10.0%2 | 15.0%3 | 5.0%1 | 100.0%20 |
| Fax & original ballot                                                       | 26.8%11 | 34.2%14 | 14.6%6 | 19.5%8 | 4.9%2 | 100.0%41 |

Table 6: Waiving Privacy, by Electronic Transmission of Voted Ballot

Note: One person reported sending in their ballot by internet fax and indicated they were asked to give up the right to a private vote.
| Were you asked to give up the right to a private vote? |
|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                                | Yes | No | I don’t remember | Total |
| Fax                                                    | 52.4%33 | 46.0%29 | 1.6%1 | 100.0%63 |
| Fax & original ballot                              | 37.5%15 | 62.5%25 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%40 |
| Email                                                  | 31.6%6 | 63.2%12 | 5.3%1 | 100.0%19 |
| Email & original ballot                            | 19.1%4 | 80.9%17 | 0.0%0 | 100.0%21 |

Table 7: Future Method Use, by Method of Transmission of Voted Ballot
| Would you use the sending method again? |
|-----------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                 | Yes | No | Total |
| Email                                   | 95.5% | 4.5% | 100.0% (22 people) |
| Email & original ballot             | 95.5% | 4.5% | 100.0% (22 people) |
| Fax                                     | 85.5% | 14.5% | 100.0% (62 people) |
| Fax & original ballot               | 90.9% | 9.1% | 100.0% (44 people) |
| Internet fax                            | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% (1 person) |
| Internet fax & original ballot      | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% (2 people) |
| Regular mail                            | 94.7% | 5.2% | 100.0% (2,196 people) |
| Courier, certified, express mail        | 86.1% | 13.9% | 100.0% (280 people) |
| Military Postal Service                 | 96.1% | 3.9% | 100.0% (203 people) |
| Embassy, consulate mail pouch           | 90.7% | 9.3% | 100.0% (140 people) |
| Dropped off or voted in person          | 77.5% | 22.5% | 100.0% (80 people) |

Table 8: Security Concerns, by Method of Transmission of Voted Ballot
| How did you feel about security of your vote?           |
|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                                 | Concern | Some Concern | Neutral | Little Concern | No Concern | Don’t Know | Total |
| Email                                                   | 18.2% | 22.7% | 18.2% | 13.6% | 27.3% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Email & original ballot                             | 4.6% | 40.9% | 22.7% | 18.2% | 13.6% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Fax                                                     | 14.3% | 17.5% | 23.8% | 15.9% | 28.6% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Fax & original ballot                               | 8.9% | 33.3% | 24.4% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 2.2% | 100.0% |
| Internet fax                                            | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Internet fax & original ballot                      | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Regular mail                                            | 7.9% | 22.3% | 19.8% | 12.8% | 36.3% | 0.9% | 100.0% |
| Courier, certified, express mail                        | 13.3% | 26.3% | 20.1% | 13.7% | 24.8% | 1.8% | 100.0% |
| Military Postal Service                                 | 6.3% | 16.0% | 18.5% | 12.6% | 46.1% | 0.5% | 100.0% |
| Embassy, consulate mail pouch                           | 9.1% | 18.2% | 19.6% | 15.4% | 35.7% | 2.1% | 100.0% |
| Dropped off or voted at local election office in the US | 7.2% | 7.2% | 18.6% | 9.3% | 56.7% | 1.0% | 100.0% |

Table 9: Whether Confirmed Arrival, by Method of Transmission of Voted Ballot
| Did you confirm your ballot arrived?                    |
|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Ballot delivery method:                                 | Yes (by state or county online tool) | Yes(by contacting my election office) | No |
| Email                                                   | 17.4% | 8.7% | 69.6% |
| Email & original ballot                             | 1.6% | 25.8% | 53.2% |
| Fax                                                     | 9.1% | 13.6% | 59.1% |
| Fax & original ballot                               | 4.6% | 9.3% | 79.1% |
| Internet fax                                            | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Internet fax & original ballot                      | 0.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% |
| Regular mail                                            | 1.2% | 2.2% | 93.3% |
| Courier, certified, express mail                        | 4.0% | 5.1% | 74.9% |
| Military Postal Service                                 | 1.5% | 3.4% | 89.8% |
| Embassy, consulate mail pouch                           | 1.4% | 2.1% | 85.2% |
| Dropped off or voted at local election office in person | 1.2% | 15.1% | 50.0% |

Table 10: Comfort with Electronic Voting, by Concerns with Electronic Transmission
| Comfortable voting via electronic transmission? |
|-------------------------------------------------|
| Concerns with electronic transmission:          | Yes | No | Not sure |
| No concerns about voting online                 | 31.1% | 2.8% | 3.6% |
| No concerns about voting by fax                 | 1.9% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| No concerns about voting by email               | 32.1% | 1.3% | 3.1% |
| Have privacy concerns                           | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Have security concerns                          | 15.6% | 23.3% | 31.5% |
| Don’t trust internet                            | 1.0% | 10.8% | 6.7% |
| Don’t want personal info on internet            | 6.3% | 28.3% | 24.2% |
| Concerned election off. will see vote           | 2.1% | 3.8% | 3.3% |
| Afraid people could see how I voted             | 6.3% | 23.3% | 19.3% |

Figure 1: Predicted Probability of Voting, by Voter Type

Figure 2: Predicted Probability of Voting, by State

Figure 3: Voting with Electronic Transmission, by Age Group

Figure 4: Voting with Electronic Transmission, by State

Figure 5: Experience of Receiving Blank Ballot, by Voter Type

Figure 6: Ease of Completing Ballot, by Voter Type

Figure 7: Ease of Completing Ballot, by State

Figure 8: Ease of Sending Voted Ballot, by Sending Method

Figure 9: Ease of Sending Voted Ballot, by Voter Type

Figure 10: Satisfaction with Voting Process, by Voter Type

Figure 11: Satisfaction with Voting Process, by State

Figure 12: Perceived Security of Method for Receiving Blank Ballot, by Voter Type  

Figure 13: Perceived Security of Vote, by Voter Type

Table 1: Age Breakdown of Sample
| Age Group | Percent |
|-----------|---------|
| 18-24     | 6.4     |
| 25-34     | 20.0    |
| 35-44     | 27.3    |
| 45-54     | 22.5    |
| 55-64     | 14.6    |
| 65-74     | 5.5     |
| 74+       | 1.4     |
| No answer | 2.3     |
| Total     | 100.00  |