Statement of Votes for the 38th Provincial General Election June 3, 2003 Relevé des suffrages pour la 38e élection générale provinciale le 3 juin 2003 Historical Summaries/ Comptes rendus d’élection précédentes Summary of Election Procedures in Manitoba 1870 to 1999 In examining historical election results it is important to be aware of the legislation that existed at the time the elections were held. What follows is a summary of the evolution of electoral law in Manitoba designed to accompany the Historical Summary that follows. Many of the dates given are for the year the new procedures were first used. In many cases, however, the legislation was passed in the years preceding the election. 1870 • The standard voting procedure was public declaration of one's preference at a constituency meeting. The electoral officer recorded the votes, and the simple plurality (or 'first-past-the-post') system was used to elect members for the 24 seats in the Legislative Assembly. • Only males owning property were eligible to vote. 1888 • The property qualification was eliminated. • The secret ballot was used for the first time. • Residence requirement raised to six months in province and one month in the electoral division. 1892 • Growth in population and territorial expansion were reflected by an increase in the Assembly's seats. By 1892, there were 40 seats in the Assembly. • Persons receiving a government salary of $350 or more annually could not vote. • Fee to file nomination papers is $200. 1894 • Residency requirements changed to three months in electoral division and one year in province. 1900 • Persons receiving government salary could vote. 1914 • The number of seats in the Assembly had increased to 49. • A new system of representation was introduced: Winnipeg was divided into three constituencies, each of which was represented by two members. Voters in each constituency were issued two ballots, one for each seat. No candidate could be listed on both ballots, so, although Winnipeg voters in effect voted twice, the ballots were counted and the candidates declared elected as if there were two separate constituencies. The rural constituencies, meanwhile, retained the simple first-past-the-post system. 1916 • Manitoba was the first Canadian province to extend the franchise to women. 1920 • Manitoba's first female representative, Mrs. Edith Rogers, was elected by the constituency of Winnipeg. • A "proportional representation" system of voting was introduced in Winnipeg. The city was consolidated into a single constituency electing 10 members. Voters indicated their preferences by numbering the candidates' names on the ballot paper 1,2,3 etc. A complex method of counting these ballot papers was provided by amendments to The Election Act. • The total number of seats in the Assembly increased to 55. 1927 • The rural constituencies abandoned the simple plurality system in favour of an "alternative" or "referential" balloting system which was used until 1958. In constituencies where more than two candidates were nominated, voters indicated their preferences by marking the ballot 1,2,3 etc. • The practice of members of the Assembly who had been chosen to enter the Cabinet resigning their seats to face a by-election was abolished. • The practice of "deferring" elections was becoming increasingly common, especially in northern constituencies where transportation and communication were difficult. The elections in these constituencies were held after the General Election when results from the remainder of the province were already known. Deferred elections were last held in 1966. 194 Statement of Votes / des suffrages 1932 • Advance polls introduced. • Native persons in Armed Forces enfranchised. 1946 • Three members were elected to represent the three branches of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force). These representatives were elected by Manitobans serving in the Armed Forces, many of whom were overseas. The addition of these seats increased the size of the Assembly to 58. 1949 • The three Armed Forces seats in the Assembly were eliminated, while the number of constituencies within Manitoba was increased to 57, as it is today. • The single, 10-member constituency of Winnipeg was replaced by three constituencies, each represented by four members. In addition, the constituency of St. Boniface was given two members. The preferential balloting system was retained for these multi-member seats. • First mention of Chief Electoral Officer. Appointed by Lieutenant Governor in council to be Clerk Of Executive Council and administer elections. 1952 • On April 3, 1952, Manitoba's Treaty Indian population was enfranchised. Prior to this date the only Treaty Indians who had been entitled to vote had been those who had served in the Armed Forces. 1957 • Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission formed to independently review boundaries. Manitoba first province with an independent boundaries commission. 1958 • Winnipeg was divided into 20 single-member constituencies. The system of referential or alternative voting was abandoned in favour of the first-past-the-post plurality system in all constituencies, rural and urban. 1962 • Provisions for hospital patients to vote (special blank ballot). 1969 • The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 on October 10, 1969. 1970 • $200 fee for nomination abolished and replaced with the requirement of 50 signatures of eligible voters in the electoral division the potential candidate wishes to become nominated in. 1980 • Paid advertising of elections allowed. • Nomination papers now require 100 signatures. • The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer was established to serve as an independent office of the Legislative Assembly in order to administer fair elections. • The Elections Finances Act was proclaimed in 1980 and introduced advertising spending limits for candidates and parties, a tax credit system for contributions to registered political parties and candidates, and provisions for financial disclosure. 1983 • Election day is always to be a Tuesday. • Swearing on at the poll introduced. 1985 • Spending limits expanded to include all expenses (not just advertising). • Partial reimbursement of actual election expenses introduced. 1986 • Effective July 1, 1986, only Canadian citizens can vote (British subjects and landed immigrants are not eligible). 1988 • Patients in mental hospitals eligible to vote for the first time (as a result of a Court of Queen's Bench decision). Historical Summary / Comptes rendus d’élection précédentes 195 • Inmates in correctional institutions eligible to vote for the first time (as a result of a Court of Queen's Bench decision in March 1986). Subsequent decisions in November, 1988, August, 1990 and August, 1999 upheld this eligibility. 1990 • Persons with a mental disability residing in an institution eligible to vote for the first time (as a result of a Court of Queen's Bench decision in August, 1990). 1997 • Voters List no longer posted • Eligible voters can have their names omitted or obscured from voters list for the first time under rules of personal security protection introduced in changes to the E.A. in 1995. • Copies of Voters List no longer available to general public for reasons of personal security. • Misuse of Voters List is an election offence. 1998 Changes to The Elections Act included: • Absentee Voting for eligible voters who are unable to vote on polling day or advance poll days. • Removal of the disqualification for judges to vote. • Revision period extended with longer returning office hours. • Reasons for use of advance poll voting expanded. • Voter given the option of placing ballot in ballot box themselves. • Automation of the Voters List is made possible. • Access Voters Lists over 25 years old allowed for historical or research purposes. • Public information mandate to provide the public with information about the electoral process, the democratic right to vote and the right to be a candidate. • Declined ballot is now a secret ballot. • Sole purpose of a judicial recount deemed to be for the purpose of declaring as elected the candidate with the highest number of votes. • Investigative powers of the Chief Electoral Officer strengthened. • Obstruction of the Chief Electoral Officer is now an election offence. • Time limit for prosecutions extended to not later than two years after the commission of the alleged offence. • Penalties for election offences increased. The Elections Finances Act amendments included provisions to: • Increase candidate and political party accountability. • Enhance public disclosure of contributions and expenses. • Eliminate advertising spending limits. • Recognize voluntarism by excluding it as an election expense. • Strengthen compliance and enforcement powers including extending the time limit for prosecution. • Clarify the definition of election expenses. • Make advance payments and assign reimbursements for candidates and parties. 1999 • Time limit for prosecutions changed to not later than one year after the date on which the Chief Electoral Officer has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed. • Changes to The Election Finances Act outlined specific requirements for auditors of political parties and candidates. 2001 • Chief Electoral Officer can appoint Returning Officers (the position of Returning Officer used to be a political appoint- ment by Cabinet). • Tie votes will now be resolved through a by-election rather than having the Returning Officer cast the deciding ballot. Returning Officers