Regulatory Policy Instruments

Voting Administration

The policies and directives overseeing voting administration detail how Elections Canada provides voting services and administers the electoral process.

Delivery of Voting Services

• Policy on Standard In-Person Voting Services

  The Policy on Standard In-Person Voting Services guides Elections Canada in interpreting and applying the Canada Elections Act when offering voting services at advance polls, at ordinary polls on election day and at local Elections Canada offices.

  • Directive on Accessibility Exemptions when Selecting a Suitable Polling Place

    The Directive on Accessibility Exemptions when Selecting a Suitable Polling Place explains the steps that returning officers must take before asking for the Chief Electoral Officer's approval to use polling places that do not meet the criteria for accessibility on election day or advance polling days. It also provides information that the Chief Electoral Officer may consider when deciding whether to approve such a request.

  • Directive on Establishing Advance Mobile Polls in Remote Communities

    Instrument to come.

  • Directive on the Assigned Voting Desk Service Model

    Instrument to come.

  • Directive on the Vote-at-Any-Desk Service Model

    Instrument to come.

• Policy on Extended In-Person Voting Services

  The Policy on Extended In-Person Voting Services guides Elections Canada in interpreting and applying the Canada Elections Act when offering voting services that go beyond the standard in-person voting services and vote-by-mail services that are outlined in the Act. Elections Canada aims to be transparent about why and when returning officers offer extended voting services to electors who face major barriers to voting and how the returning officers' decisions to do so align with the Act. This policy also guides the agency in considering requests for new forms of extended voting services by providing a framework for decisions to balance competing considerations, including legal requirements and operational constraints.

  • Directive on Serving Electors on Campus

    Instrument to come.

• Policy on Replacement Voting Services

  The Policy on Replacement Voting Services applies to exceptional situations where Elections Canada may provide replacement voting services to electors through the discretionary powers given to the Chief Electoral Officer in the Canada Elections Act.

Support

• Policy on Voter Identification when Registering and Voting in Person in Federal Electoral Events

  The Policy on Voter Identification when Registering and Voting in Person in Federal Electoral Events outlines the ways that electors can prove their identity and address, as set out in the Canada Elections Act. The policy explains to electors, election officers, candidates and political parties how Elections Canada interprets and applies the identity verification requirements in the Act and how the Chief Electoral Officer decides on the list of accepted pieces of identification.

  Currently under review.

  • Directive on the In-Person Verification of Voter Identification

    Instrument to come.

Regulated Entities

The policies and directives related to regulated entities outline how Elections Canada manages registration, reporting and other administrative activities of political entities to ensure that they meet their obligations under the Canada Elections Act.

• Policy on Political Party Registration

  The Policy on Political Party Registration applies to Elections Canada's activities as they relate to registering and deregistering political parties and maintaining a registry of political parties. It guides Elections Canada's decisions to register or deregister political parties and gives Canadians a clear and transparent explanation of the approach to registering political parties.

  • Directive on Triennial Review of Political Party Membership

    The Directive on Triennial Review of Political Party Membership applies to the administration of the triennial review exercise and the procedure that Elections Canada conducts every three years to confirm that eligible and registered political parties have submitted the declarations of at least 250 members, as required under the Canada Elections Act.

    This directive explains how the Chief Electoral Officer determines whether a party has met the requirement to submit membership declarations. It also outlines the steps that Elections Canada takes if the Chief Electoral Officer finds that the party has failed to provide the required documents as part of the triennial review.

  • Directive on the Registration of Political Parties

    Instrument to come.

  • Directive on the De-Registration of Political Parties

    Instrument to come.

• Directive on Extensions of Filling Deadlines

  Instrument to come.

Public Education and Information

The regulatory policy instruments for public education and information set out how Elections Canada carries out its activities in these areas.

• Policy on Outreach and Public Education

  Instrument to come.

Mandate Support

The regulatory policy instruments for mandate support outline how Elections Canada delivers various aspects of its mandate, such as making federal elections more accessible and protecting electors' personal information.

Instruments to come.