Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)

AEC Eden-Monaro By-Election Research

Social research using multi-mode increases participation.

Wallis has been the sole supplier evaluating AEC federal election communications campaigns since 2015. Recently re-appointed until 2023, we were selected because of our proven ability to reach all eligible voters and our strong reporting and presentation skills.

The purpose of this research was, firstly, to measure the effectiveness of the AEC’s COVID-19 health protection measures introduced for the Eden-Monaro by-election and secondly to evaluate the AEC’s campaign designed to raise awareness of these health protection measures and alleviate voter concerns.

Offering respondents the opportunity to complete surveys seamlessly either by telephone or online, this research demonstrates Wallis’ state of the art multi-mode platform and our ability to deliver multi-mode projects to very tight and non-negotiable timelines. This research required developing, conducting and reporting on Benchmark and Evaluation surveys shortly prior to and immediately after the Eden-Monaro by-election.

Over 800 interviews were completed across the two surveys, providing a robust data set with which to report the findings.

The findings from this research have been important in informing the AEC of the risks presented by COVID-19 to the Australian electoral process, and what can be done to mitigate those risks. In particular, Wallis was able to inform the AEC about:

• the impact of COVID-19 on intention to vote
• perceptions of the AEC’s health protection measures
• the effectiveness of the AEC’s advertising and public relations campaign
• the effect of the health prevention measures at voting centres.

Have a similar problem? Get in touch.