The Innovation Lab Voter Experience

In the United States, the 'Rock the Vote' movement hosts events and creates awareness for upcoming elections, candidates and issues, with the goal of getting people out to the polls.

Perhaps we could consider the opposite, a rockin' celebration held after the election, open only to people who cast a vote and received a ticket or unique confirmation number at their polling station.

Moreover, the party only happens if... more »

Simple idea based on Wal-Mart greeters: have volunteer polling station greeters welcome everyone as they arrive at the polling station and thank them for voting when they leave. Great role for youth, especially those too young to participate by voting. Think about the visual of the voters of tomorrow welcoming us and thanking us for exercising the right to vote. After all, it's their future we're voting on. Volunteer... more »

Host Candidate Information sessions on the current role of Councillor and the governance process in an open forum in the Atrium. Provide online resources on the role with references to the Municipal Government Act. Engage retired or retiring Councillors to share information and stories. Have candidates answer a short survey on why they are running, and post answers on the City's website, in addition to any links to their... more »

Track potential first time voters, and when they vote, celebrate at the voting station. At minimum thank them, ideally find fun ways to acknowledge what could be considered a rite of passage that is publicly celebrated. Whether it is balloons, cake, or a sticker, bells ringing etc acknowledge them. Engage a youth focus group to help come up with ideas about how to celebrate in person, and celebrate online. Consider having... more »

Election and Information Services Division should include a polling station at the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre for its homeless clients. .

Could we design a program where mobile ambassadors raise awareness of issues and help stimulate conversation? To keep the conversation as connected as possible we could use a digital tool like a touch or ipad.

 

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary Public Library IdeaLab Monthly Design challenge, which used this topic as the focus for the event!)

Poll workers are connected to the community in as many ways as possible. This might also mean that we need to reconsiders how we decide where your local poling station is - what are the actual hubs in the community these days? Is it the coffee shop, the mall, the dog park?

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of a Civic Innovation YYC "Idea Lab" session which used this topic as the focus for the event!... more »

Add something delicious to the act of voting. Incorporate a food truck element into an advanced voting bus/truck so that participants get a bit of a perk for casting their ballot. Aligning this with advanced voting stations would be one way to help manage risk or regulations.

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary Public Library IdeaLab Monthly Design challenge, which used this topic as... more »

A mobile voting bus (like a bookmobile) would make schedules stops at locations like nursing homes or hospitals to allow all people to vote without barriers. People can board the bus or request an election officer bring in the voting iPad so their vote counts. They could also be transit voting buses stationed at major transit terminals to help commuters vote.

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of... more »

For Calgarians who aren't eligible to vote (children, teens, permanent residents etc.) there could be mock poling stations or activities located in the same environment as the regular poling space to allow practice and engagement.

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary Public Library IdeaLab Monthly Design challenge, which used this topic as the focus for the event!)

Engaging youth in the civic political process, schools, agencies, or individuals can prepare and implement a campaign around an issue that's important to them in the city. This inspires youth to research and organizes around important issues in the city, and to increase civic engagement from the next generations of voters.

The program would include some kind of granting system to help them initiate a media campaign,... more »

Provide a mock voting station for youth to use when they accompany their parents to the polls. Provide some information on each candidate with a few youth oriented questions inside the poll.

 

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary Public Library IdeaLab Monthly Design challenge, which used this topic as the focus for the event!)

Launch of an Education program to low voter turnout districts.

Undertake a data analysis of low voter turnout districts (i.e. demographic analysis and open data?)

Development of targeted education programs to those communities. (i.e. candidate information created by a third party. Community centers. High schools. University. College. Senior Centres...)

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary... more »

Using cultural centers for candidate visits. Providing candidate info in multiple languages at cultural centers. Using cultural community leaders to facilitate interaction with candidates and city leaders for voting information and encouragement.

 

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary Public Library IdeaLab Monthly Design challenge, which used this topic as the focus for the event!)

Could we design a program where mobile ambassadors raise awareness of issues and help stimulate conversation? To keep the conversation as connected as possible we could use a digital tool like a touch or ipad.

 

(This idea is submitted on behalf of the participants of the Calgary Public Library IdeaLab Monthly Design challenge, which used this topic as the focus for the event!)