2008 VOTING IN MILAN AND LESSONS LEARNED

UNCLAS MILAN 000027 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC KPAO IT SUBJECT: 2008 VOTING IN MILAN AND LESSONS LEARNED ¶1. SUMMARY: Voting interest in Milan's consular district reached unprecedented levels and reflected not only widespread U.S. citizen anticipation but intense Italian public interest as well. Post engaged in a variety of voter assistance activities to reach over 19,000 registered Americans, comprising outreach to American community groups, press availability, magazine and radio placements. In addition, Post focused its October and November Speakers Bureau Program activities to respond to the extraordinary level of Italian interest. Through the Speakers Bureau, 38 presentations were made at 26 secondary schools across Northern Italy reaching approximately 3,100 high school students. These activities were frequently the subject of local press and helped Post blanket Northern Italy in its voter information drive while meeting public diplomacy goals. Post's highly successful voting assistance program and public diplomacy efforts were capped by an all-night Election Night party which became the most sought-after event of the fall. It garnered approximately 2,000 attendees and heavy media attention. ¶2. Feedback from U.S. citizens regarding Post's voter assistance efforts was largely positive and citizens were very appreciative of Post's services. Post noted, however, a great deal of confusion among voters regarding the use of voting materials and information. Any further simplifications in voting materials would be helpful. Post also would welcome earlier and more specific information targeted at first-time voters living overseas. Lastly, Post noted a discrepancy between the user-friendly FVAP website guidance and the FPCA for Virginia residents. END SUMMARY. PREPARING THE WAY FOR VOTERS -------------- ¶3. Post experienced an intense and sustained interest in voting without precedent in historical memory. Milan's preparations began in December 2007, with the creation of a dedicated voter email address with several template responses to handle anticipated high volume requests. Over the course of 11 months, Post displayed voting materials throughout the consulate's public areas, sent registration/absentee ballot request cards (FPCAs) to all official Americans and their dependents, included voting information in Post welcome packages, and provided voting posters, FPCAs, and voting assistance guides to community groups such as Democrats Abroad and Americans in Milan. (Republicans Abroad lacked a presence in Northern Italy.) In addition, all official and registered Americans received an "All You Need to Know About Voting Absentee" informational email prepared by the Bureau of Consular Affairs. In February 2008, Post placed a lengthy text on the primary process and absentee voting in Easy Milano, an English-language weekly publication with an audience of 14,000. A shorter, summary text ran in subsequent issues. Post's website was also linked directly to Embassy Rome's to direct visitors to Mission-wide centralized, comprehensive voting information. ¶4. Besides responding to hundreds of phone inquiries, the American Citizen Services Unit saw a daily average of seven or more "walk-in" customers seeking assistance, information or to drop off completed absentee ballots. The general election campaign period saw a marked increase in this activity. Post encountered a number of cases where the citizen did not understand that voting itself does not occur overseas at Foreign Service posts. The user-friendly Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website was helpful in cases in which a U.S. citizen born abroad wished to vote but had never resided in the U.S. Post also prepared hand-outs on last minute voting, electronic transmission options, and mailing options. CONSULATE OFFICERS ROCK THE (ABSENTEE) VOTE -------------- ¶5. Post's officers contributed to an all-hands effort to disseminate voter information through public outreach. The Consul General regularly incorporated voting assistance services information in his public activities with American community groups. The public affairs officer gave a presentation to the Milan chapter of Democrats Abroad. The consular section chief participated in an Americans in Milan event and gave an interview on the election and absentee voting to Radio Monte Carlo, a prominent Milan radio station. The PAO, poloff, and consular chief also gave weblog interviews. Other officers engaged in similar activities. ¶6. In response to extraordinary Italian interest and to amplify our public information drive, Post's Speakers Bureau Program for October and November was titled "The 2008 Political Campaigns and Electoral Process." The program's backbone was an off-the-shelf presentation prepared by Public Affairs consisting of a Powerpoint slideshow, prepared speech text, and free hand-outs. With this tool, 16 speakers from all Consulate sections gave 38 presentations at 26 secondary schools across Northern Italy to a total of 3,100 high school students. A number of the locales had never had a visit from a Consulate official and these visits generated considerable buzz. In just one example, the consular chief gave two presentations in Boario Terme at the end of which two local television stations sought interviews. The vice mayor also stopped by because he had heard about the event. THE HOT EVENT TICKET (NOT JUST OBAMA VS. MCCAIN) -------------- --- ¶7. The capstone of Post's election season efforts was an all-night Election Night party hosted by Post at a spacious local nightclub in the city center. It quickly became one of the most sought after events of the fall. The party featured a local celebrity as emcee, live U.S. television broadcast coverage throughout the event, analysis by consulate officers, and a moderated discussion with U.S. and Italian political experts. Media interest was intense and, with over 100 accredited media outlets represented, the party's interview zone saw heavy activity much of the evening. An array of sponsors, a "renewal corner" offering rejuvenation massages and 4 a.m. coffee and American breakfast by McDonald's contributed to the event's resounding success. There were approximately 2,000 attendees, of whom over 500 were U.S. citizens. Media coverage of the event was very favorable with color photos and articles in the major national newspapers. LESSONS LEARNED -------------- ¶8. Overall, the voting assistance program was successful in accomplishing its goal. There was, however, some confusion among would-be voters regarding the voting materials. Post recommends action in these areas: -- Voting Materials: Voter tools should utilize plain language in large type and instructions should be clearly enumerated rather than compacted. -- First-Time Voters: This category of citizens, particularly those born abroad who have never resided in the U.S., needs earlier and more targeted messages on how to vote and registration options. -- FPCA/FVAP Discrepancy: Post noted a discrepancy between the user-friendly FVAP website guidance and the FPCA for Virginia residents. The website instruction states that Block 2.g of the FPCA card must indicate the name and address of employer. The FPCA card, however, indicates that Block 2.g is for the state driver's license or I.D. number. ¶9. Post would like to thank Department's Voting Action Officers, Jack Markey and Liz Gracon, for their consistently helpful and thorough guidance and advice throughout the process. We also are very appreciative of the FVAP website, a USG model in its ease of use, clarity and simplicity. Gill