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A History of the Vote in Canada
The Electoral System of Canada
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A History of the Vote in Canada
A History of the Vote in Canada
Contents
PDF version
Preface
Introduction
CHAPTER 1 – British North America, 1758–1866
Legislative Assemblies and Responsible Government
The England of George III
Nova Scotia: Cradle of Canadian Parliamentary Government
Prince Edward Island: A "Landless" Colony
Cape Breton: A Colony Without Voters
New Brunswick: A Fragmented Colony
Lower Canada: A British Colony Unlike the Others
Upper Canada: The Era of the Family Compact
A Right in Jeopardy
The Province of Canada: Changing Rules Reflect Instability
British Columbia: The Importance of Being English
Voters and Confederation
CHAPTER 2 – From a Privilege to a Right, 1867–1919
A Federal or a Provincial Matter
Questionable Election Practices
The Electoral Mosaic, 1867–1885
Macdonald Centralizes the Franchise
Laurier Decentralizes the Franchise
Borden's Strategic Measures
Women and the Vote
CHAPTER 3 – Modernization, 1920–1981
The
Dominion Elections Act
Voters Lists
Access to the Vote
The Second World War and Its Aftermath
Racial Exclusions
Religious Exclusions
Aboriginal Peoples and the Franchise
Accessibility and the Electoral Process
Consolidation and Review, 1961–1981
Advance Voting
Voter Notification
Opening Up the Process
CHAPTER 4 – The Charter Era, 1982–2006
Election Administration and the Charter
Election Administration and Access to the Ballot
Charter Enfranchisements
Accessibility of the Vote
The National Register of Electors
The 2000
Canada Elections Act
Boundary Redistribution
Regulation of Political Parties, Candidates and Campaign Finance
Recognition of Political Parties in Law
Reforming Electoral Finance
Third-Party Spending
Extending Public Funding and Regulation
Technology and the Electoral Process
Participating in Democratic Development Abroad
Conclusion
APPENDIX
– Voter Turnout Since Confederation
Selected Readings
Next