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Committee Report # 9-19(2) Report on the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the February 23, 2021 Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election October 27, 2020 Report on the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election 19th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Chair: Mr. Kevin O’Reilly MEMBERS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON RULES AND PROCEDURES Kevin O’Reilly MLA Frame Lake Chair Rocky Simpson MLA Hay River South Deputy Chair Steve Norn Hon. Shane Thompson Jackie Jacobson MLA Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Nahendeh MLA Nunakput Alternates Hon. R.J. Simpson Rylund Johnson MLA Hay River North MLA Yellowknife North February 23, 2021 SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Mr. Speaker: Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Report on the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election. Kevin O’Reilly Chairperson STANDING COMMITTEE ON RULES AND PROCEDURES Report on the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .............................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4 Background ........................................................................................................... 4 Online Voting ........................................................................................................ 5 Recommendation 1 ........................................................................................ 6 Election Rebate..................................................................................................... 7 Recommendation 2 ........................................................................................ 8 Register of Electors ............................................................................................... 8 Recommendation 3 ........................................................................................ 8 Recommendation 4 ........................................................................................ 9 Recommendation 5 ........................................................................................ 9 Indebtedness ...................................................................................................... 10 Liquor Sales ........................................................................................................ 11 Recommendation 6 ...................................................................................... 11 Recommendation 7 ...................................................................................... 11 Multi-District Polls ............................................................................................... 12 Polling Place ....................................................................................................... 12 Recommendation 8 ...................................................................................... 12 Recommendation 9 ...................................................................................... 13 Recommendation 10 .................................................................................... 13 Election Witnesses .............................................................................................. 13 Recommendation 11 .................................................................................... 14 Financial Reports ................................................................................................ 14 Recommendation 12 .................................................................................... 14 Special Voting Opportunities ............................................................................... 14 Recommendation 13 .................................................................................... 15 Recall Legislation ................................................................................................ 15 Open Data .......................................................................................................... 16 Recommendation 14 .................................................................................... 17 Recommendation 15 .................................................................................... 17 Recommendation 16 ................................................................................... 17 Other Recommendations .................................................................................... 17 Recommendation 17 .................................................................................... 18 Recommendation 18 .................................................................................... 18 Housekeeping ..................................................................................................... 20 Recommendation 19 .................................................................................... 20 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 21 Submissions ......................................................................................... Appendix 1 Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Page 1 of 19 Report on the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election February 23, 2021 STANDING COMMITTEE ON RULES AND PROCEDURES REPORT ON THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER’S REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE 2019 TERRITORIAL GENERAL ELECTION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures (Committee) is pleased to Report on its review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election. The Elections and Plebiscites Act requires the Chief Electoral Officer to present a report on the administration of the election within six months of the election. The Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election was tabled in this House by the Speaker on May 28, 2020 and was referred to this Committee. During its review, Committee has held four public hearings during which they heard from the Chief Electoral Officer, Dr. Aleksander Essex, Dr. Nicole Goodman, MLA Julie Green, David Wasylciw and OpenNWT. Committee thanks these witnesses for sharing their opinions, experiences and expertise. This report includes Committee’s response to the recommendations of the Chief Electoral Officer and other presenters and makes the following recommendations from Committee: Recommendation 1 - The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to require regulations be developed governing voting by electronic means, including setting cybersecurity standards, technical specifications, procurement guidelines, and an audit mechanism. Recommendation 2 - The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Elections NWT implement and administer an election rebate program as laid out in this report for candidates starting with the 2023 Territorial Election. Recommendation 3 - The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that “email address” be included under section 54(2) of the Elections and Plebiscites Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Page 1 of 21 Report on the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election February 23, 2021 Act. Further, that email addresses should only be used to maintain or update the Register of Electors, and not be shared with any candidate. Recommendation 4 - The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to require a public body at request to provide the personal information held by that body. Recommendation 5 - The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that section 73 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to state that the list of electors shall be provided to candidates as soon as possible. Recommendation 6 – The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that section 121 and section 309 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to include a prohibition on the sale of cannabis during the hours a poll is open on polling day. Recommendation 7 – The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to expressly prohibit liquor and cannabis as campaign expenses. Recommendation 8 – The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to prohibit photography, videography, or phone calls within the polling station, and to authorize the Chief Electoral Officer to issue guidance on the usage of electronics in polling stations. Recommendation 9 – The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to prohibit a candidate’s polling agent from being able to assist an elector in casting a vote. Recommendation 10 – The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer investigate how other provinces or territories allow residents to cast votes from any polling station, and report back to the Legislative Assembly within six months on the outcomes of that investigation. Recommendation 11 – The Standing