CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION The organization of Civic Education and Information Campaign Batumi, 9-10 February 2012 REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

The training of electoral officials and civic education of voters Strategy for the period for the period 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 and 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 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 Elections 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 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 implementation Identification of the advertising company Design Production Distribution

Shots from social spots 6 procedural/motivational spots 11 social “Did you know…” spots 7 audio spots (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 times on 14 TV channels Audio spots broadcasted by 14 Radio stations

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) Billboards Light boxes Street liners

Other modern means to inform voters & Social networks Hotline SMS messages

Promo 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 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 Centre for citizens Public access Space for training, communication and information Documentary background Library Rich collection of links to websites

Conclusions (1) Parliamentary Elections voters’ turnout

Conclusions (1) General Local Elections voters’ turnout

Progress 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: 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 voters awareness

Thank you! Dr. Iurie CIOCAN Chairman, Central Electoral Commission Moldova