Glossary
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Deputy returning officer
The election official who supervises a polling station. The deputy returning officer's tasks include making decisions about a person's eligibility, counting the ballots and certifying the results.
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Election day
The day most people go to vote. Also known as polling day.
Elections Canada
The non-partisan agency responsible for the running of federal elections, by-elections and referendums. Also known as the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.
Elector
A person who is a Canadian citizen at least 18 years old. Also known as a voter.
Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act
The law that outlines the rules for the redistribution of electoral districts between provinces and territories, and the revision of electoral district boundaries.
Electoral district
A geographical area represented by a member of the House of Commons; often called a riding or constituency. There are presently 308 federal electoral districts in Canada.
Electoral system
Canada uses a first-past-the-post system. In this system, the candidate who gets more votes than any other candidate in the electoral district wins. It is thus not necessary to obtain an absolute majority of the votes (50 percent plus one) to be elected.
Enfranchise
Receive the right to vote.
Expenses limit
Maximum amount that a candidate or registered political party is authorized to spend during an election period. The limit is calculated on the basis of the number of registered electors in the electoral district in which the candidate is running, or in all the electoral districts in which the registered party is running confirmed candidates. It is indexed every year for inflation.