Project Description
As part of its programming to support democratic, inclusive elections in Tunisia, DI implemented a voter mobilization project focused on the 2019 National Assembly and Presidential elections with the support of the Swiss government. DI supported experienced Tunisian civil society partners to mobilize voters in the 2019 elections and to use data and evidence to enhance citizens’ understanding of electoral processes. DI also assisted civil society organizations to observe elections and monitor social media and to improve access for and participation of women and vulnerable groups across electoral processes. This effort builds on DI’s existing body of research about what works to promote civic engagement in Tunisia, which DI conducted under its voter education and political engagement program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative. Based on the findings of a built-in randomized controlled trial (RCT) impact evaluation of those previous interventions, four major findings have framed DI’s work under the ELECT project:
• Men tend to vote in higher numbers than women; • Tunisian youth, between 18 and 35 years old, tend to vote less than older generations; • Door-to-door canvassing is a more highly effective mode of voter mobilization than others; and • Making a plan to vote is a highly effective tool to mobilize voters; however, all else being equal, voting plans are least effective among women and among individuals without a university education.
Through this project, DI used its findings to inform civic engagement activities that support Tunisia’s ongoing democratic transition.