Restrictions [C.E.A., s. 326, 327, 328(1)-(2)]

• The first person who transmits the results of an election survey – other than a survey that is not based on recognized statistical methods – to the public during an election period and any person who transmits them to the public within 24 hours after they are first transmitted to the public must provide the following together with the results:

  • the name of the sponsor of the survey;

  • the name of the person or organization that conducted the survey;

  • the date on which or the period during which the survey was conducted;

  • the population from which the sample of respondents was drawn;

  • the number of people who were contacted to participate in the survey; and

  • if applicable, the margin of error in respect of the data obtained.

• In addition to the above information, the following must be provided in the case of a transmission to the public by means other than broadcasting:

  • the wording of the survey questions in respect of which data is obtained; and

  • the means by which a report may be obtained.

• A sponsor of an election survey must, at any time during an election after the results of the survey are transmitted to the public, provide, on request, a copy of a written report on the results of the survey. The report must include the following, as applicable:

  • the name and address of the sponsor of the survey;

  • the name and address of the person or organization that conducted the survey;

  • the date on which or the period during which the survey was conducted;

  • information about the method used to collect the data from which the survey results are derived, including:

    • the sampling method;

    • the population from which the sample was drawn;

    • the size of the initial sample;

    • the number of individuals who were asked to participate in the survey and the numbers and respective percentages of them who participated in the survey, refused to participate in the survey, and were ineligible to participate in the survey;

    • the dates and time of day of the interviews;

    • the method used to recalculate data to take into account in the survey the results of participants who expressed no opinion, were undecided or failed to respond to any or all of the survey questions; and

    • any weighting factors or normalization procedures used in deriving the results of the survey; and

  • the wording of the survey questions and, if applicable, the margins of error in respect of the data obtained.

• A sponsor may charge a fee of up to $0.25 per page for a copy of the report.

• The first person who transmits the results of an election survey that is not based on recognized statistical methods to the public during an election period and any person who transmits them within 24 hours after they are first transmitted to the public must indicate that the survey was not based on recognized statistical methods.

• No person must knowingly cause to be transmitted to the public, in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in that electoral district, the results of an election survey that have not previously been transmitted to the public.

• No person must transmit to the public, in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in that electoral district, the results of an election survey that have not previously been transmitted to the public.

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Restrictions [E.A., s. 235]

• During a campaign period, an individual or organization who first publishes in British Columbia the results of an election opinion survey must publish the following information with the results of the survey:

• the name of the sponsor of the survey;
• the name of the individual or organization who conducted the survey;
• the dates when the survey was conducted;
• to the extent that the information is applicable to the survey, the number of individuals contacted for the survey and the percentage of those who refused to take part in the survey;
• to the extent that the information is applicable to the survey, the margin of error for the survey;
• the exact wording of each question for which data are reported;
• for each question for which the margin of error is greater than that reported, the margin of error for the question;
• a mailing address or telephone number, indicating it as the address or telephone number at which the sponsor can be contacted to obtain a written report regarding the survey.

• If the results of an election opinion survey are to be published without the authorization of the sponsor, at least 24 hours before first publication, the individual or organization who publishes the results must notify the sponsor so that the report can be prepared.
• From the time of the first publication of an election opinion survey until the end of the campaign period, whether the publication is done within British Columbia or outside British Columbia, the sponsor must provide on request a copy of a written report on the results of the survey, published in British Columbia, including the following information to the extent that it is applicable to the survey:

• the name and address of the sponsor of the survey;
• the name and address of the individual or organization who conducted the survey;
• the dates when the survey was conducted;
• the exact wording of each question for which data are reported;
• the method used to collect the information;
• the population from which the sample was drawn;
• the size of the initial sample and the number of individuals contacted for the survey;
• the number and percentage of individuals contacted who answered the survey;
• the number and percentage of individuals contacted who refused to take part in the survey;
• the method used to recalculate percentages when those who expressed no opinion or those who did not respond are omitted;
• the times of any interviews;
• the sampling method;
• the number of ineligible individuals contacted;
• any weighting factors or normalization procedures used;
• the margin of error for the survey.

• A fee may be charged for a report but the fee: must be based on the reasonable costs of reproducing the original report; and, as a limit, must not be more than $25 or a higher amount established by regulation.

Definition [E.A., s. 228, 229(1)]

• An election opinion survey means an opinion survey respecting an election or a matter of public discussion in relation to the election, including an opinion survey respecting an issue discussed publicly in the election.
• The sponsor of election advertising or an election opinion survey is whichever of the following is applicable:

• the individual or organization who pays for the election advertising or election opinion survey to be conducted;
• if the services of conducting the advertising or survey are provided without charge as a contribution, the individual or organization to whom the services are provided as a contribution;
• if the individual or organization that is the sponsor is acting on behalf of another individual or organization, the other individual or organization.

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