Library and Archives Canada Cataloging in Publication Canada. Elections Canada Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the 38th general election held on June 28, 2004 Issued also in French under title: Rapport du directeur général des élections du Canada sur la 38e élection générale tenue le 28 juin 2004. ISBN 0-662-38110-6 Cat. No. SE1-1/2004E 1. Canada. Parliament—Elections, 2004. 2. Elections—Canada. I. Title. JL193.R46 2004 324’.0971’0648 C2004-980295-X © Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, 2004 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The voting results will be published in a separate document entitled Thirty-eighth General Election 2004: Official Voting Results, in accordance with paragraph 533(a) of the Canada Elections Act. PRINTED IN CANADA For enquiries, please contact: Public Enquiries Unit Elections Canada 257 Slater Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M6 Tel.: 1 800 463-6868 Fax: 1 888 524-1444 TTY: 1 800 361-8935 www.elections.ca EC 94333 “The right to vote is only meaningful when you use it.” Jean-Pierre Kingsley Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Table of Contents Foreword.........................................................................................................................................1 I. Activities, 2000–2004.............................................................................................................3 Meeting our commitments .................................................................................................. 3 1) Improving the lists of electors...................................................................................... 3 2) Improving the voter information card.......................................................................... 9 3) Improving communications with electors.................................................................. 10 4) Improving responses to enquiries............................................................................... 11 Fulfilling our mandate....................................................................................................... 12 Event readiness............................................................................................................... 12 Event delivery after the 37th general election................................................................ 14 Public education, information and support..................................................................... 15 Responding to a changing legal environment.................................................................. 22 More transparent political financing .............................................................................. 22 The Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act ................................................................. 23 Registered party status.................................................................................................... 25 Voting rights for incarcerated electors ........................................................................... 25 Third-party and advertising restrictions ......................................................................... 25 Transmission of election results before all polls close................................................... 26 II. The 38th General Election in June 2004...........................................................................29 The run-up and launch...................................................................................................... 29 The Event Management Framework .............................................................................. 29 The issue of the writs...................................................................................................... 30 Preparations in the electoral districts .............................................................................. 32 Returning offices and polling sites................................................................................. 34 Election officers and local staff...................................................................................... 37 The Elections Canada Support Network ........................................................................ 39 Community relations officers............................................................................................ 40 Aboriginal communities ................................................................................................. 41 Youth .............................................................................................................................. 42 Homeless electors........................................................................................................... 43 Other initiatives .............................................................................................................. 43 Table of Contents i Communications ................................................................................................................ 44 The Voter Information Service....................................................................................... 44 The Elections Canada Web site...................................................................................... 46 Advertising ..................................................................................................................... 48 Outreach ......................................................................................................................... 50 Media relations ............................................................................................................... 52 Electors, candidates and ballots........................................................................................ 53 Preparing the lists of electors ......................................................................................... 53 Candidates ...................................................................................................................... 57 Ballots............................................................................................................................. 64 Political financing............................................................................................................... 64 Expenses limits............................................................................................................... 64 Contributions .................................................................................................................. 65 Reimbursements ............................................................................................................. 65 Regulation of political entities and training ................................................................... 66 Election advertising ........................................................................................................... 68 Third-party advertising................................................................................................... 68 Advertising blackouts..................................................................................................... 68 Political party broadcasting ............................................................................................ 68 Voting.................................................................................................................................. 70 Special ballots and the Special Voting Rules................................................................. 70 Adaptations during the 38th general election................................................................. 76 Advance voting............................................................................................................... 76 Voting on election day.................................................................................................... 77 After election day ............................................................................................................... 80 Validation of the results.................................................................................................. 80 Recounts ......................................................................................................................... 81 Return of the writs.......................................................................................................... 82 Contested elections......................................................................................................... 83 Final lists of electors....................................................................................................... 84 Enforcement ................................................................................................................... 84 Reimbursements and election expenses ......................................................................... 85 Payments to election workers......................................................................................... 85 III. Analysis and Planning ........................................................................................................87 Follow-up – and preparation ............................................................................................ 87 Follow-up surveys .............................................................................................................. 87 General survey of electors.............................................................................................