CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONCENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONThe organization of Civic Education and The organization of Civic Education and

Information CampaignInformation CampaignBatumi, 9-10 February 2012Batumi, 9-10 February 2012

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

The training of electoral officials and civic The training of electoral officials and civic education of voters Strategyeducation of voters Strategy

for the period 2008-2013for the period 2008-2013

• Increasing the public interest for elections

• Increasing citizen awareness of the electoral process

• Encourage citizen participation in elections and other

public activities

• Civil society training for elections

Voter Education/Awareness Voter Education/Awareness and Electoral Educationand Electoral Education

• Parliamentary Elections April 5, 2009

• Early Parliamentary Elections July 29, 2009

• Early Parliamentary Elections November 28, 2010

• General Local Elections June 5, 2011

Challenges to Civic/Voter EducationChallenges to Civic/Voter Education

• Limited funds

• Inadequate coordination of the implemented initiatives

• Lack of monitoring and evaluation

• Impact analysis of the information campaign

• Limited time for production

• Maintain neutrality

• Making a common person aware of the importance of

the elections

Electoral background - General Local Electoral background - General Local Elections June 5, 2011Elections June 5, 2011

• Registration of a large number of candidates

• Big number of elective positions with the use of 2 to 4 ballots

• Every voter can vote only in localities in which each he

officially resides

• More than one round in the majority of localities

Objectives of Civic/Voter EducationObjectives of Civic/Voter Education

• Motivate voters to participate in the elections

• Increase voter awareness of voting procedures

• Build the image of the CEC as a modern and

transparent institution

• Present real people behinds elections

Phases of the implementationPhases of the implementation

• Identification of the advertising company

• Design

• Production

• Distribution

Shots from social spotsShots from social spots

• 6 procedural/motivational spots• 11 social “Did you know…” spots• 7 audio spots (Radio)

Voter Education Media (TV/Radio)Voter Education Media (TV/Radio)• Moldavian population has the most confidence in advertising on TV

• Local broadcasters are obliged and those with national coverage have the right to air CEC spots

• 17 spots shown around 7 000 times on 14 TV channels

• Audio spots broadcasted by 14 Radio stations

Printed materials (1)Printed materials (1)

• T-shirts for the promo bus activity • Voting “step-by-step” posters • General motivational poster• Identity documents leaflets• Calendars• Banners on the internet

Printed materials (2)Printed materials (2)• Billboards• Light boxes• Street liners

Other modern means to inform votersOther modern means to inform voters

• www.voteaza.md & www.cec.md• Social networks

• Hotline • SMS messages

Promo Bus activityPromo Bus activity• Inform/Motivate people about the upcoming local elections

• Provide a detailed information about the necessary documents (leaflets)

• raise awareness regarding electoral bodies/procedures in different age groups

• discuss with/inform at least 200 people per day

• present CEC as a modern/ innovative organization

Contests for youthsContests for youths• Essay contest and drawing competition in 2009• Contest “Sing, World!” in 2010• Contests for the 2011 electoral campaign: - “The most successful motivational motto in Local Elections” - “The best motivational poster in Local Elections”• Exhibition during the electoral period

CEC Information and Resource CEC Information and Resource Centre for citizensCentre for citizens

• Public access

• Space for training, communication and

information

• Documentary background

• Library

• Rich collection of links to websites

Conclusions (1)Conclusions (1)Parliamentary Elections voters’ turnout

Conclusions (1)Conclusions (1)General Local Elections voters’ turnout

Progress of the 2011 Civic/Voter EducationProgress of the 2011 Civic/Voter Education  

• CEC had better financial and professionally contribution• Awards for the top three most active TV and Radio stations• A better communication with civil society• Better respected deadlines for production/editing/ dissemination of the spots• Regular briefing sessions and regular press releases• More active media covering the voter education campaign. • A common slogan, motto and visual implementation • Joint effort of all the institutions involved, a strategy and a roughly creative concept development

Recommendations:Recommendations:

• Implement one coordinated voter education campaign• Permanent monitoring of the implementation• Designation of a coordinator from the CEC staff• Use new technologies (such as SMS, internet, hot line)• Conduct a pre-election general survey of the population• Copyrights (for the logo, songs, video spots etc.)• Outline key performance indicators• Conduct a post-election survey• Select a specialized publicity company to help

Our partners in raising Our partners in raising voters awarenessvoters awareness

Thank you!Thank you!

Dr. Iurie CIOCANDr. Iurie CIOCANiurie.ciocan@cec.mdiurie.ciocan@cec.md

Chairman, Central Electoral Commission Chairman, Central Electoral Commission MoldovaMoldova