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