Elections Canada

[UrbanWaterloo]

Elections Canada
www.elections.ca

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[UrbanWaterloo]

Voting by Special Ballot on University Campuses
April 15, 2011 | Link (http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&document=apr1511&dir=pre&lang=e)

The Special Voting Rules of the Canada Elections Act provide for the use of the special ballot to assist electors in a range of situations. Certain electors, including members of the Canadian Forces serving abroad and electors away from their ridings during a federal election (eg. snowbirds), can vote only by special ballot. The special ballot is also available to all electors who wish to vote by mail or at the local Elections Canada office.

Because the rules governing the use of the special ballot are different from those for standard voting methods, Elections Canada generally uses the special ballot outside the local Elections Canada office in defined circumstances to assist electors who face barriers to voting, such as electors in acute care hospitals or in isolated work camps in locations like Fort McMurray in northern Alberta.

"Initiatives of this nature are expected to be planned well ahead of the election," said Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Marc Mayrand. "Parties are consulted, to avoid any confusion and to give them an opportunity to raise any possible concerns so that these may be considered and, where appropriate, addressed prior to conducting such initiatives."

In light of the focus on youth and student electoral participation at the 41st general election, and on efforts to increase voter interest and turnout among this group, a well-intentioned returning officer undertook a special initiative to create an opportunity for students at the University of Guelph to vote by special ballot.

Once Elections Canada officials were made aware of the local initiative in Guelph, the returning officer was instructed not to engage in any further activities of a similar nature. All returning officers have received this instruction.

While the initiative at the University of Guelph was not pre-authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer, the Canada Elections Act provides that electors may apply for and vote by special ballot. A special ballot coordinator, appointed by the local returning officer, oversaw the activities at the University of Guelph. All information at our disposal indicates that the votes were cast in a manner that respects the Canada Elections Act and are valid.

[UrbanWaterloo]

First Estimate of Turnout at Advance Polls Now Available
April 26, 2011 | Link (http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&document=apr2611b&dir=pre&lang=e)


The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Marc Mayrand, announced today the preliminary estimate of the number of electors who voted in advance on Friday, April 22, Saturday, April 23 and Monday, April 25.
Note that these are preliminary estimates and that not all polls may have yet reported.
According to the preliminary figures, 2,056,001 electors voted at the advance polls in this federal general election. This is a 34.5% increase from the 1,528,780 electors who voted in advance in the 40th general election in 2008.
Over 676,000 Canadians voted on Friday and over 823,000 on Monday, representing the two (2) busiest days of advance voting ever.

"There was a higher than expected turnout this past weekend at the advance polls," said Marc Mayrand. "We thank voters for their patience and field staff for their responsiveness."


Local Riding | Number of Electors
Cambridge | 8,027
Kitchener Centre | 6,769
Kitchener–Conestoga | 6,802
Kitchener–Waterloo | 9,100

The following table compares the turnout by province or territory for advance voting in the 41st and 40th general elections.


Province or territory | 41st General Election{br}Advance Voting{br}(Preliminary Figures)| 40th General Election{br}Advance Voting{br}(Final Figures)
Newfoundland and Labrador| 17,277|10,296
Prince Edward Island| 13,208|10,196
Nova Scotia| 66,053|37,782
New Brunswick|70,361|52,220
Quebec|565,897|448,466
Ontario |826,895|603,578
Manitoba |55,871|36,186
Saskatchewan |44,779|38,933
Alberta |149,407|110,226
British Columbia |243,247|177,915
Yukon |1,560|1,409
Northwest Territories|1,288|1,192
Nunavut |158|381
Total |2,056,001|1,528,780

These preliminary figures are based on numbers reported by returning officers and are not final until all the votes are counted on election day and the results have been validated by the returning officers. The final results will be published in the official voting results following the election.

When it was introduced in 1920, voting at advance polls was limited to certain groups of voters whose work required them to be away from their electoral districts on election day. Today, it is one of several voting methods that may be used by any elector who wishes to vote before election day.

[bcwessel]

Elections Canada warns of false information
Laura Payton | CBC News | 1 May 2011 | LINK (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/05/01/cv-election-wrong-polls.html)


Elections Canada is warning voters not to trust anyone but the agency itself about where they should vote on Monday after reports that some voters are being told to go to the wrong polling stations — some up to an hour away from their homes.

Spokeswoman Francine Bastien said Elections Canada has had reports from several ridings of voters being given false information directing them to the wrong place to vote. Most, but not all, are in Ontario. She confirmed Kitchener-Waterloo is one of the affected ridings. . .

Some reports have said voters are getting phone calls telling them their polling station has changed, but Bastien wouldn't say precisely how people are getting the false information.

Be wary of any unsolicited calls regarding the relocation of polling stations, and when in doubt contact Elections Canada directly for information on where to vote.

[IEFBR14]

CBC Radio One also just aired a story about one of their own staffers who went to the location indicated on his voter card only to discover that, while it was in his riding, it was the wrong polling station. By the time he got everything straightened out and went to the correct poll he'd wasted an extra hour. I hope this was an isolated case, not some "computer bug" otherwise a lot of people may just give up out of frustration.

P.S. Note that to vote you need to bring your voter registration card and show ID. A driver's license will do, as will any other government-issued photo ID. There are other options if you lack a voter card or ID (go to elections.ca for details) but the point is that you need to come prepared.

And, of course, vote!

[BuildingScout]

CBC Radio One also just aired a story about one of their own staffers who went to the location indicated on his voter card only to discover that, while it was in his riding, it was the wrong polling station. By the time he got everything straightened out and went to the correct poll he'd wasted an extra hour. I hope this was an isolated case, not some "computer bug" otherwise a lot of people may just give up out of frustration.

P.S. Note that to vote you need to bring your voter registration card and show ID. A driver's license will do, as will any other government-issued photo ID. There are other options if you lack a voter card or ID (go to elections.ca for details) but the point is that you need to come prepared.

And, of course, vote!

Preferably bring some form of ID that includes proof of address such as your driver's license.

[KevinL]

Preferably bring some form of ID that includes proof of address such as your driver's license.

Quite so; you need a photo ID and proof of address, and a driver's licence (or photo health card) has both in one. If using a photo ID without an address (such as a passport), a separate proof of address (such as a utility bill or other addressed mail from a reputable source) will be needed.

[Waterlooer]

When do the results start coming in on CBC? When do polls close in Ontario?

[IEFBR14]

When do the results start coming in on CBC?
After the polls close in BC, i.e. 22:00EDT.


When do polls close in Ontario?
21:30EDT

[pnijjar]

Elections Canada warns of false information
Laura Payton | CBC News | 1 May 2011 | LINK (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/05/01/cv-election-wrong-polls.html)



Be wary of any unsolicited calls regarding the relocation of polling stations, and when in doubt contact Elections Canada directly for information on where to vote.

Holy cow. I hope they find out who is doing this and nail them. I really hope this is pranking and not an attempt by political parties to lower turnout.