HAMILTON — McMaster University is combining therapy-dog visits with student-to-student conversations to make municipal voting less intimidating, while researchers examine which outreach methods reach young voters.

A university report published Monday, October 19 describes a Dogs for Democracy gathering held the previous week. Three dogs from the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA Pet Visiting Program helped attract students to the Hub, where canvassers discussed voting.

The initiative involves New Majority, a national non-profit working with McMaster. The university says students will undertake approximately 1,000 hours of paid voter-engagement work during this election.

Research is still underway

Political Science professor Karen Bird’s team is studying voters’ experiences, including how they learned about voting opportunities and which communications reached them. Students have administered surveys at advance polls; another survey is planned after the October 26 election.

The report describes an outreach effort and a research question, not evidence that the dogs or canvassing have already increased turnout. Its discussion of practical barriers should not be mistaken for completed survey findings.

Where Hamilton voters can still cast a ballot

The City of Hamilton’s October 19 notice confirms ballot-on-demand voting at City Hall, rooms 192/193, from October 19 to 23, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eligible voters from any ward may use that option.

On Monday, October 26, polls run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; voters may use any voting location within their own ward. The city directs voters to bring identification showing their name and home address. A voter information card is not required.

Check the official election page for your ward and voting location.

Sources: McMaster’s October 19 report; City of Hamilton’s October 19 voting notice.

Lead image: Editorial illustration of therapy-dog-assisted campus voter outreach, not a photograph of the McMaster event or its participants.