Local Political Research
Abacus Data’s CEO is an expert on Canadian constituency elections and the relationship between the local campaign and election outcomes. Research has found that the local candidate can have an impact on the outcome of elections. Moreover, incumbent MPs do possess an incumbency advantage over challenger candidates.
But that advantage is not fully appreciated unless an incumbent representative (federal, provincial, or municipal), candidate, or political party has the right data on the electorate’s opinion and behaviour. Abacus Data works with incumbents, constituency associations, and candidates to develop affordable research programs to identify and measure the key metrics within a constituency, ward, or region. This data is then used to focus constituency communications, craft election strategies, and identify key issues of concern for constituents.
This approach can also be used by organizations seeking to influence the policy process. Legislators are highly responsive to what is happening in their constituencies. In this way, information is power. Since few federal or provincial legislators actively survey their constituency, organizations can gain an advantage on their competition by understanding what is happening at the local level of key elected officials. Highly targeted studies can help to identify voter concerns and help predict the outcome of election campaigns.
