Compendium of Election Administration in Canada: a Comparative Overview
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Compendium of Election Administration in Canada: A Comparative Overview As of September 30, 2014 Table of Contents A. Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................... 5 A.1 Terminology ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 A.2 Overview of major legislative changes (September 2012–June 2014) ................................................................... 8 B. Redistribution of Electoral Boundaries ..................................................................................................................... 17 Table B.1 Frequency of redistribution and criteria for determining boundaries ........................................................... 18 Table B.2 Electoral boundaries commissions ............................................................................................................. 20 Table B.3 Public hearings ........................................................................................................................................... 23 Table B.4 Submission of report to Parliament or Legislative Assembly ...................................................................... 25 C. Administration of Elections ........................................................................................................................................ 29 Table C.1 Chief Electoral Officer................................................................................................................................. 30 Table C.2 Advisory committee of political parties ....................................................................................................... 33 Table C.3 Appointment of election officers ................................................................................................................. 35 Table C.4 Staff and payment ...................................................................................................................................... 40 D. Entitlement to Vote and Registration of Electors ..................................................................................................... 41 Table D.1 Registers of electors, enumeration and revision ........................................................................................ 42 Table D.2 Right to vote and voter identification requirements at the polls .................................................................. 47 Table D.3 Lists of electors .......................................................................................................................................... 50 E. Voting Process............................................................................................................................................................. 55 Table E.1 Polling divisions, polling stations and polling day ....................................................................................... 57 Table E.2 Alternative methods of voting ..................................................................................................................... 59 Table E.3 Assistance to voters on polling day ............................................................................................................ 66 Table E.4 Final tally of all votes .................................................................................................................................. 68 F. Nomination and Registration of Political Entities ..................................................................................................... 73 Table F.1 Requirements to be a candidate ................................................................................................................. 75 Table F.2 Impediments to being a candidate .............................................................................................................. 76 Table F.3 Requirements for nomination and registration ............................................................................................ 77 Table F.4 Appointment of official agents ..................................................................................................................... 79 G. Election Financing and Advertising .......................................................................................................................... 83 Table G.1 Public funding and reimbursement ............................................................................................................. 86 Table G.2 Contributions – limits; allowable sources ................................................................................................... 94 Table G.3 Limits on expenses .................................................................................................................................... 97 Table G.4 Deadline for reporting contributions and expenses .................................................................................. 100 Table G.5 Entities required to report ......................................................................................................................... 102 Table G.6 Requirements of financial reports ............................................................................................................. 103 Table G.7 Specific provisions governing advertising and opinion polls ..................................................................... 105 Table of Contents 3 H. Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................................... 113 Table H.1 Enforcement authority .............................................................................................................................. 114 Table H.2 General offences and penalties ................................................................................................................ 117 Table H.3 Additional penalties for corrupt or illegal practices and major election offences ....................................... 118 Table H.4 Specific offences and penalties ................................................................................................................ 120 I. Referendums, Plebiscites, Recall and Initiative ....................................................................................................... 125 Table I.1 Proclamation, question and conditions....................................................................................................... 128 Table I.2 Referendum/plebiscite process .................................................................................................................. 133 J. Senate Nominee Elections ........................................................................................................................................ 139 Table J.1 Senate nominee elections ......................................................................................................................... 140 Table J.2 Senate nominee election financing ........................................................................................................... 142 Appendix A. Dates of Most Recent General Elections ................................................................................................ 143 Appendix B. Canadian Election Officials ..................................................................................................................... 145 Appendix C. French Equivalence of Terminology ....................................................................................................... 147 Appendix D. English Equivalence of Terminology ...................................................................................................... 149 Appendix E. List of Legislation, Regulations and Official Reports ........................................................................... 151 4 Compendium of Election Administration in Canada: A Comparative Overview A. Introduction Each jurisdiction in Canada conducts the election of members to its Legislative Assembly or Parliament within its own framework of election law and administrative practice. The Compendium of Election Administration in Canada: A Comparative Overview is a comprehensive summary of the federal, provincial and territorial electoral frameworks. It is based on the legislation in force and does not include administrative practices not mentioned in the law with the exception of the section concerning advisory committees of political parties. The Compendium covers most major elements of the electoral process, including the redistribution of electoral boundaries, the administration of elections, the registration of electors, the voting process, the nomination and registration of political entities, election financing and advertising, enforcement of the legislation, and referendums, plebiscites, recalls and initiatives. However, the reader should be aware that Elections Canada is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy of the information herein provided. This information is provided for convenience only. In interpreting or applying the Acts, the reader should refer to the official texts or obtain the services of a legal expert. This document is up to date as of September