Central Poll Supervisor Guidebook

SUPPORTING

Tips

• If the RegO gives you cancelled forms or certificates, put them in All Purpose Envelope EC 11520 and mark the envelope for Shredding. Return it to the office

An elector needs extra help

I think the elector might need help

Tools for electors who need extra help

Some electors may need extra tools to vote independently. This tool is at every table:

• EC 50140 Welcome to Your Polling Place Card — can be used to explain the voting process

You have these tools:

• Magnifier — used to magnify and illuminate a document so the elector can see it better
• Braille list of candidates — for electors who can read braille (at ordinary polls only)
• EC 50170 Voting Template — used to hold the ballot in place and to help electors feel where to mark the ballot

The DRO has this tool:

• EC 50174 List of Candidates in Large Print — printed in a larger format for electors with a visual impairment

The elector can use their smartphone to help them in the voting process. If the app is used to take a photo of the ballot, ask them to make sure the photo is deleted after they have voted.

If the elector has a disability

You are legally required to accommodate electors with disabilities and to serve them in a way that respects their dignity.

Face the elector and speak calmly. Even if they have a hearing impairment, your natural facial expressions, gestures and body movements will help them understand.

Electors are allowed to use their cellphone behind the voting screen as an assistive tool to help them vote.

Let the elector know that they can leave feedback on accessibility and their experience receiving services. They can use the Feedback on Accessibility and Voter Experience Form EC 0119 available near the front of the voting room. The CPS can help.

Service animals

Service animals are allowed inside the polling place where local law permits.

If the elector considers the animal to be a service animal, treat it as a service animal at the polling place. You do not need to know if the animal is trained or if the person has a disability.

Service animals are working animals and should not be disturbed unless there is good reason to do so.

Some service animals, like dogs, might make noise or bark in order to assist the person. Do not disturb service animals when they make noise unless the noise is excessive.

If a conflict arises, try to resolve it to the satisfaction of everyone

involved and complete an Incident Report EC 10051.

If you cannot resolve it to the satisfaction of everyone involved, call the office.

Conflict could arise:

• between electors with different needs and interests
• between the rules above and the rules of the building

The elector wants to be served in French

Electors have the right to be served in the official language of their choice. You are provided with tools to do so.

1. Say, “Un moment s'il vous plaît”. If there is someone who is bilingual, ask them to help
2. If there isn't someone who is bilingual, give the elector Bienvenue à votre lieu de vote EC 50140

Note the card explains the voting process. You can point to the steps as you do them

3. If you are having difficulty, call 1-800-463-6868 and ask for interpretation services

The elector wants help from an interpreter

If an elector needs interpretation services or you notice that your polling place will need an interpreter due to ongoing elector needs, call the office and follow their instructions.

Situations with the List

Issuing a Transfer Certificate at the polling place

A Transfer Certificate EC 50052 allows an elector to vote at a polling place other than the one they were assigned to. Most often these certificates are issued in advance by the office. They can also be issued by you at the polling place if:

• the elector is an election officer who did not yet vote and is working at your polling place
• the elector is a candidate who wishes to vote at a polling place other than the one they were assigned; call the office for assistance
• the elector has accessibility needs, meaning that they have been assigned to a polling place where they cannot vote without difficulty
• the elector's polling station was moved. You would have received notice of this from the office

Once you are satisfied that an elector qualifies to receive a transfer, do the following:

1. Call the office to confirm that the elector is registered. Ask for the elector's PD and sequence number and write them down

Note if not already registered, have the RegO complete Registration Certificate EC 50050 registering the elector to the PD they would have been assigned to. The elector will give both the completed Registration Certificate and Transfer Certificate to the DRO

2. Check that the office will confirm the transfer with the original polling place
3. Make elector aware of Privacy Notice EC 50152 and complete Transfer Certificate EC 50052
4. Record certificate information on Transfer Certificate Register – Polling Place Log EC 50358
   
   Text version of "Transfer Certificate Register "
5. Give certificate to elector, and direct to polling station

Removing an elector from the List of Electors

Situations with ID

Eligibility

To vote at a polling station, an elector must be:

• at least 18 years old on election day
• a Canadian citizen
• living at an address assigned to that polling station, except if they have Transfer Certificate EC 50052

Acceptable ID

When they vote, an elector must show acceptable ID or be vouched for. Acceptable ID proves who they are and where they live. Many different combinations of documents are acceptable; without acceptable ID someone can vouch for who they are and where they live. The ID combination options are listed on Have Your ID Ready to Vote EC 90189. Documents not listed there are not acceptable.

The documents must be in English or French (or Inuktitut, in Nunavut). Photocopies are not acceptable.

E-statement and e-invoice printouts are accepted. They can also be shown on a mobile device.

Expired documents are acceptable if they show the elector's name and current address.

Documents on which the name or address have been added by hand are not acceptable, unless they have been added by the person or organization that issued the document.

Refer to Have Your ID Ready to Vote EC 90189 when you're not sure.

On the List
When they vote, an elector must be either:

• already on the List of Electors at the polling station, or
• added to the List of Entries at the polling station

If someone refuses to make the declaration

An elector, voucher or helper may refuse to make a declaration and appeal to you; if they do, your role is to make sure that the request for the person to make a declaration is proper and reasonable.

A request is proper if the declaration is part of a required procedure and reasonable if it is based on evidence.

Follow this procedure:

Situations with Ballots

Balancing records and ballots

Balancing records and ballots helps the DRO keep track of their ballots and it helps poll clerks to make sure they are keeping accurate records. If there are problems, regular balancing helps to find the problem quickly so that steps can be taken to manage it.

Check that the DRO and PC are balancing their records and ballots at least 4 times throughout the day.

The most important thing with balancing is not that the numbers match. The purpose of balancing is:

1. to understand problems with ballots and records as soon as possible after they occur
2. to record the problems so that they can be clearly understood by others (and to report them if necessary)
3. to take action that ensures the problem does not happen again

Additional ballots

If a DRO tells you they do not have enough ballots

Elector Feedback

Electors can use Feedback on Accessibility and Voter Experience Form EC 50119 to provide feedback on voter experience. They put the completed forms in Feedback on Accessibility and Voter Experience Box EC 50121. If electors give you feedback verbally, invite them to also complete the form.

When you complete Verification of Accessible Facilities Booklet— Advance Poll EC 50115 or Verification of Accessible Facilities Booklet—Ordinary Poll EC 50116 you should also review the forms in the box. The feedback could be about any aspect of the polling place. Regularly reviewing these forms, or having the IO check them will let you know if there is any action you can or need to take as a result of feedback.

• Previous
• Table of Contents
• Next