Division A - Public Relations Programs
Category 2 - Public Service
Community Awareness Program's Voter Awareness Campaign 2006
Vicki Collins & Joni Schopke, Lee County Election
Golden Image Award
Judges' Award
Research/Situation Analysis:
The number of people registered to vote in Lee County has increased but
voter turnout for Lee County’s elections has declined. The 2000 General
election had a 74.71% voter turnout, the 2002 General election had a
57% voter turnout, and the 2006 General election had a 47.67% voter
turnout. The Community Awareness Program (CAP) was created in 2002 to
educate voters on the new voting machines. In 2003 CAP grew to provide
voter registration, voter info updates, election info, early voting
info and accept absentee ballot requests. In order to comply with
Florida Statute 98.255 requirement to provide voter education in our
community, and promote voter awareness, CAP continued to increase the
number of voter registration drives conducted at local events each
year. In 2005, CAP participated in 119 events where we provided 5,164
people with our services, increased voter registration by 463 new
voters, updated 242 voter’s info, and gave 2,239 hands-on demos of the
voting machines. We partnered with three local organizations to conduct
mock elections that allowed us to increase new voter registrations,
update voter information, provide election information, accept absentee
ballot requests and provide hands-on demos of the voting machines to
large groups of people.
Objectives: Objectives to be achieved between
Jan. 1. 2006 and Dec. 31, 2006: 1.To promote awareness of the
importance of voter participation in the electoral process by
conducting 10% more voter registration drives/events than in 2005. 2.
To increase the number of people who receive our services at voter
registration drives/events and mock elections by 25% more than in 2005.
3. To improve voter registration by increasing the number of new voter
registrations and voter information updates at events by 20% more than
in 2005. 4.To help voters become more comfortable using Lee County’s
voting machines by increasing the number of hands-on education demos by
25% more than in 2005. 5. To encourage active public participation in
elections by conducting 200% more mock elections than 2005.
Implementation: Our year began with a
brainstorming session to strategically plan how to effectively achieve
our objectives. We incorporated the use of a patriotic color scheme of
red, white & blue with all decorations, giveaways, tents, banners,
and dress code that maximized CAP’s exposure by creating a brand image
that promoted recognition in the community. We used “look for us under
the red, white & blue tents” throughout the year in press releases,
to help media locate us at large events, and on our Sample Ballots at
mock elections to direct people where to vote. (Samples of press
releases and sample ballots are in book.) We partnered with as many
local businesses/organizations in every part of the county to promote
awareness of the importance of voter participation in the electoral
process, increase the number of new voter registrations and info
updates, and provide hands-on demos of the voting machines. We planned
our “Register to Vote at Work” during the month of June, where we
partnered with local businesses and provided our services to their
employees in an easy and convenient manner. We associated with the Lee
County Library System to conduct voter registration drives at area
libraries. These drives helped us to reach people in every part of the
county. We checked city & county websites, newspapers and local
magazines for festivals and events to include in the list of
opportunities. We conducted drives everywhere large groups of people
were, this included: Bike Nights, Pirate Days, Mango Mania, Jazz
events, concerts, 4th of July celebrations, etc. While out in the
community new contacts were made that created partnerships and offered
new opportunities for us to achieve our objectives. We participated at
candidate forums throughout the county. CAP partnered with local sports
teams, businesses, clubs, and organizations to conduct mock elections.
They were one of our most fun and interactive means by which we
accomplished our goals. Mock elections are conducted exactly like real
elections: set the date, staff it, prepare staff duty list, prepare the
ballot, prepare and pass out sample ballots, promote the election, pack
the equipment, head to the polling location, conduct the election and
hope for high voter participation.
Evaluation: The Community Awareness Program
achieved and exceeded all of it’s objectives between Jan. 1, 2006 and
Dec. 30, 2006 and had a very successful Voter Awareness Campaign 2006!
1. CAP had 150 voter registration drive/events, an increase of over
25%. 2. CAP provided services to 8,080 people at events, an increase of
over 35%. 3. New voter registrations and voter information updates were
1,059, an increase of 50%. 4. CAP provided 4,266 hands-on demos, an
increase of over 90%. 5. Our mock elections increased over 300% with 11
conducted in 2006.
Budget: Part time CAP staff hours: 1,449 CAP Staff hours: 4,873.25 Total Hours: 6,322.25
Decorations
& Supplies: $6,661.56 Event Fees: CAP is a local government and
provides a community service at events, so 147 events either waived
their fees or did not have one. Only 3 events charged CAP with a total
of $300 spent. Total Cash: $6,961.56