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The Bettering Democracy Project Collaborators

Dr. Harold Clarke
Ashbel Smith Professor, University of Texas at Dallas
 

Harold D. Clarke is Ashbel Smith Professor in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, and adjunct Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex. He is chief editor of Electoral Studies. He is also a principal investigator for the 2010 British Election Study, the 2011 Political Support in Canada Study, and the 2010, 2012, and 2014 Political Support in America Studies.
 

Dr. Clarke is an exemplary academic who has dedicated his entire career to studying political support and voting behavior in various societies, he is also a pioneer of the merits of online survey design and data collection. His immense expertise will serve as an invaluable addition on both the Scientific Research and Data Collection Committee and the Survey Design, Analysis and Results Interpretation and Dissemination Committee of this project.

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Jean-Pierre Kingsley
Former Chief Electoral Officer of Canada
 

Jean-Pierre Kingsley served as Chief Electoral Officer from 1990 to 2007. During his term, he adopted a proactive role for his Office, recommending and promoting key initiatives to make the electoral process more accessible. While ushering in reforms needed to comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he led Elections Canada into the age of computerized election administration. In 1992, with the adoption of Bill C-78, Elections Canada gained a new mandate to inform and educate voters, particularly those most likely to experience difficulties in exercising their democratic rights.

Other achievements include the introduction of the 36-day election calendar, digitized electoral geography systems and products, and the establishment of the National Register of Electors. In addition, the election financing regime was expanded to regulate third-party advertising and election financing of all political entities, combining to make the electoral process more fair and transparent. Jean-Pierre Kingsley also presided over a period of unprecedented technological change, including the development of the Elections Canada Web site as a comprehensive tool for public information.

During his tenure, Elections Canada participated in many significant international development missions aimed at promoting democratic electoral processes through co-operation, capacity building and mutually beneficial relationships. Following his recommendations to Parliament, the Canada Elections Act was amended in 2006 to authorize the Chief Electoral Officer to appoint returning officers.

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All of these impressive achievements have helped to better Canadian democracy and it is this particular trajectory of experience that we most want to capitalize on with the addition of Mr. Kingsley as a collaborator on our project team. Based on his vast experience, Kingsley will provide us with his input on both our Scientific Research and Data Collection Committee, and our Survey Design, Analysis and Results Interpretation and Dissemination Committee. He will also help guide us on various topics to be considered during the survey design phases, the interpretation of our results and especially when we design viable policy and implementation strategies based on our findings.

 

The Bettering Democracy project draws on research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council  of Canada

© 2024 Mebs Kanji, Kerry Tannahill

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