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In all jurisdictions, a Chief Electoral Officer (Chief
Election Officer in Ontario) is responsible for the administration of elections.
As the highest-ranking election official, the Chief Electoral Officer is usually
responsible for all aspects of electoral administration, including enforcing
fairness and impartiality on the part of election officers and ensuring compliance
with the legislation governing elections. In most cases, the Chief Electoral
Officer may, during an election, exercise emergency powers to extend deadlines,
change or amend forms, or adapt the Act to meet the circumstances. Everywhere
except in New Brunswick, the Chief Electoral Officer also administers the
provisions and regulations related to the financing of political parties and
candidates. In New Brunswick, the Commission on Election Financing, headed
by the Supervisor of Political Financing, was established for that purpose.
In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Saskatchewan,
the Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by a resolution of the House of Commons
or legislature. In all other jurisdictions, the Chief Electoral Officer is
appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (except in British Columbia
where the Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor),
or in the territories, by the Commissioner or Commissioner in Executive Council.
In the case of New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest
Territories and Nunavut, the appointment is, however, made on the recommendation
of the Legislative Assembly. In some jurisdictions, the Chief Electoral Officer
is appointed for a specific period. That is the case in Quebec (seven years),
Alberta (one year after a general election), and Saskatchewan and British
Columbia (one year after every second general election).
In all jurisdictions, the Chief Electoral Officer reports
to the Speaker of the House of Commons or legislature. As a rule, a report
is required from the Chief Electoral Officer after every general election,
describing the event and typically including his or her recommendations for
desirable amendments to the electoral legislation. Newfoundland and Labrador,
Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia require the Chief
Electoral Officer to produce an annual report describing the activities of
the Office.
Various additional election officers are appointed to conduct
elections. These officers include the returning officer (or district electoral
officer in British Columbia), who is responsible for the conduct of an election
at the electoral district level. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Manitoba,
British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, returning officers
are appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer; in all other cases they are
appointed by the Governor or Lieutenant Governor in Council (Commissioner
in Executive Council in Yukon). In most cases, returning officers may appoint
an assistant or deputy returning officer, or both. In Prince Edward Island,
British Columbia and Yukon, this task is the responsibility of the Chief Electoral
Officer.
As a rule, returning officers also appoint the election officers
who register electors or work in polling stations. In some cases, these officers
must be appointed from a list of names supplied by the political parties that
finished first and second in the previous election in that electoral district.
The salary of all election officers is determined according
to a tariff of fees, generally fixed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
(except in the territories and in Newfoundland and Labrador). In Quebec, the
government sets it by regulation, and in Nunavut, it is set by the Management
and Services Board.
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| Jurisdiction |
Chief Electoral
Officer |
Commission on Election
Financing |
| Appointed by |
Term of office |
Reports to Speaker |
Appointment |
Term of office |
Reports |
| Canada |
Resolution of House of Commons |
Ceases to hold office at 65 years of
age, or may be removed for cause by Governor General on address of House
of Commons and Senate |
| • |
Within 90 days of return of writ, Chief Electoral Officer
reports on administration of Office since last report or since issuance
of writs, including any issues that should be brought to attention of
House of Commons |
| • |
As soon as possible after a general election, Chief
Electoral Officer reports on any amendments that he or she deems desirable
for better administration of Act |
|
– |
– |
– |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
Resolution of House of Assembly |
May only be removed by a resolution of
House of Assembly |
Chief Electoral Officer reports annually
on affairs of his or her Office |
– |
– |
– |
| Prince Edward Island |
Lieutenant Governor in Council |
– |
Before or within 10 days of start of
session, Chief Electoral Officer may report on any matter related to administration
of Office since last report or on any amendments to Act that he or she
deems desirable for better administration of Act |
– |
– |
– |
| Nova Scotia |
Governor in Council |
– |
Before or within 10 days of start of
session, Chief Electoral Officer may report on any matter in connection
with administration of Office since last report or on any amendments to
Act that he or she deems desirable for better administration of Act |
– |
– |
– |
| New Brunswick |
Lieutenant-Governor in Council, on recommendation of Legislative
Administration Committee or other designated committee |
– |
Before or during any session, Chief Electoral
Officer reports on any matter or event that occurred relating to any election
since date of his or her last report |
Supervisor of Political Financing appointed by Lieutenant-Governor
in Council on recommendation of Assembly |
Supervisor holds office for 5 years |
Annual report submitted to Legislative Assembly |
| Quebec |
National Assembly, on a motion of Prime Minister of Quebec,
by a resolution of 2/3 of its members |
7 years |
| • |
If Chief Electoral Officer adapts Act in a case of emergency, a report
must be made within 30 days of polling day or end of revision period |
| • |
After an election, Chief Electoral Officer publishes, as soon as
possible, a detailed report on election containing, in particular, results
for each electoral division |
| • |
A report on the activities of Chief Electoral Officer, including
a financial report for preceding fiscal year, must be submitted no later
than September 30 of each year |
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– |
– |
– |
| Ontario |
Lieutenant Governor in Council, on address
of Legislative Assembly |
– |
| • |
Within 12 months after polling day, Chief Election Officer
reports on the voting equipment, vote-counting equipment or alternative
voting methods |
| • |
Makes recommendations to Speaker with respect to amending
Act so as to adopt voting equipment, vote-counting equipment or alternative
voting methods used in the election |
|
– |
– |
– |
| Manitoba |
Lieutenant Governor in Council |
Must be retired by December 31 of year
in which he or she reaches age of 69 |
Chief Electoral Officer reports annually
on his or her work and reports on conduct of each election after each election;
report may include recommendations for legislative amendments |
– |
– |
– |
| Saskatchewan |
Resolution of Legislative Assembly |
Until 12 months after day of return of
writ for second general election for which he or she is responsible |
| • |
Chief Electoral Officer reports on conduct of election within 60
days after polling day if emergency action is taken during an election;
if not, as soon as possible after an election |
| • |
Report summarizes returns and reports from registered political parties
and candidates, use of mobile polls, applications for party registration
and disposal of those applications, and any other information that Speaker
may direct |
| • |
Chief Electoral Officer reports annually on progress and activities
of previous year |
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– |
– |
– |
| Alberta |
Lieutenant Governor in Council, on recommendation of Legislative
Assembly |
Until 12 months after polling day for
a general election unless reappointed prior to that date by Lieutenant
Governor in Council |
| • |
Chief Electoral Officer reports after each enumeration, general election,
election under Senatorial Selection Act, by-election or plebiscite
|
| • |
Chief Electoral Officer reports annually on exercise of his or her
functions under Act |
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– |
– |
– |
| British Columbia |
Lieutenant Governor on recommendation
of Legislative Assembly |
Until 12 months after day of return of
writ for second general election for which he or she is responsible |
Chief Electoral Officer makes following
reports: an annual report; a report after each election, general enumeration
or plebiscite; a report with any recommendations for legislative amendments;
a report respecting any Member who fails to comply with election financing
provisions |
– |
– |
– |
| Yukon |
Commissioner in Executive Council |
– |
Chief Electoral Officer may, at any time,
report on any matter in connection with his or her duties or on any amendments
to Act that are desirable for better administration of Act |
– |
– |
– |
| Northwest Territories |
Commissioner, on recommendation of Legislative Assembly |
– |
Within 6 months after a general election,
Chief Electoral Officer reports on any matter connected to administration
of Act and any amendments that are desirable for better administration
of Act |
– |
– |
– |
| Nunavut |
Commissioner, on recommendation of Legislative Assembly |
7 years |
Chief Electoral Officer reports annually
to Speaker, no later than the earlier of: April 1st of following year,
or 180th day after date of writ for general election |
– |
– |
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| Jurisdiction |
Appointments made by Governor or Lieutenant Governor
in Council |
Appointments made by Chief Electoral Officer |
Appointments made by returning officer |
Appointments
made by deputy returning officer |
| Canada |
Returning officers |
| • |
Special Voting Rules Administrator |
| • |
Special ballot officers (6): 3 on advice of Prime Minister, 2 on advice
of Leader of Opposition, 1 on advice of leader of registered party that
has third largest number of members in House of Commons |
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Assistant returning officers |
| • |
Registration officers and revising agents, from lists submitted by
political parties that finished first and second in last election in
electoral district |
| • |
Deputy returning officers, from a list submitted by political party
that finished first in last election in electoral district |
| • |
Poll clerks, from a list submitted by political party whose candidate
finished second in last election in electoral district |
| • |
Central poll supervisors, where a central polling place has more than
4 polling stations |
| • |
Information officers, with approval of Chief Electoral Officer, where
there is a central polling place |
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Interpreters |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
– |
| • |
Returning officers |
| • |
Special Ballot Administrator |
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| • |
Election clerks and deputy returning officers, with approval
of Chief Electoral Officer |
| • |
Enumerators, under direction of Chief Electoral Officer |
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Poll clerks, with approval of returning officer |
| Prince Edward Island |
Returning officers |
| • |
Confirmation officers, from lists submitted by the 2
registered political parties whose candidates came first and second in
last election in electoral district |
| • |
Deputy returning officers, from a list submitted by registered political
party that elected most members at last election |
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Election clerk |
Poll clerks |
| Nova Scotia |
Returning officers |
– |
| • |
Constable |
| • |
Election clerk |
| • |
2 enumerators and 2 revising agents, from lists submitted by the
2 political parties whose candidates received the highest and second
highest number of votes at last election in electoral district |
| • |
Revision assistants |
| • |
Deputy returning officers from list supplied by candidate of political
organization whose candidate was elected in electoral district |
| • |
Poll clerks from list supplied by political organization whose candidate
came second in electoral district |
| • |
Supervising deputy returning officers, where a central polling place
has 5 or more polling stations |
| • |
Presiding officers |
|
• Interpreters
• Constable |
| New Brunswick |
Returning officers |
– |
| • |
Election clerk |
| • |
Enumerators |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Supervisory deputy returning officers, where a building
has 4 or more polling stations |
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Interpreters |
| Quebec |
– |
| • |
Returning officers, after a competition among qualified
electors |
| • |
Reviser, to act as chairman of board of revisers |
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Assistant returning officer |
| • |
Enumerators, 2 per polling subdivision: 1 on advice
of party that won last election, or the elected independent member;
the other on advice of party that finished second |
| • |
Revisers, 3 per board, the first 2 appointed as above |
| • |
Revising agents, in groups of 2, appointed to one or
several boards of revisers |
| • |
Deputy returning officers, recommended by authorized
party whose candidate won last election |
| • |
Poll clerks, recommended by candidate of authorized
party whose candidate finished second at last election |
| • |
Information officers |
| • |
3-member panel in every polling station to verify elector
identity; one member recommended by candidate of party that won last
election, second recommended by candidate of party that came second |
| • |
Officers in charge of voters list, 2 per polling station,
recommended as above |
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– |
| Ontario |
Returning officers |
– |
| • |
Election clerk |
| • |
Enumerators (2), representing two different political interests |
| • |
Revision assistants |
| • |
Revising agents |
| • |
Deputy returning officers from a list submitted by candidate of registered
party in power |
| • |
Poll clerks representing a different political interest than deputy
returning officers, from a list submitted by candidate of political
interest that at most recent election received the highest or next highest
number of votes, as the case may be, in electoral district |
| • |
Interpreters (in special circumstances) |
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– |
| Manitoba |
– |
Returning officers |
| • |
Assistant returning officers, with approval of Chief
Electoral Officer |
| • |
Enumerators |
| • |
Revising agents |
| • |
Revising officers |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Senior deputy returning officers, where a building has
more than 3 polls |
| • |
Registration officers |
| • |
Constables |
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| • |
Interpreters |
| • |
Constables |
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| Saskatchewan |
Returning officers |
Assistant Chief Electoral Officer |
| • |
Election clerk |
| • |
Enumerators |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
| • |
Supervisory deputy returning officers, where a central polling place
has 5 or 6 polling divisions |
|
| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Interpreters |
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| Alberta |
Returning officers |
– |
| • |
Election clerk |
| • |
Enumerators, from lists submitted by local constituency association
of registered party in power and by registered political party not in
power whose candidate received highest or next highest number of votes
in electoral division in last election |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Supervisory deputy returning officers, where a polling place has 2
or more polling stations |
| • |
Special constables |
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| • |
Interpreters |
| • |
Special constables |
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| British Columbia |
– |
| • |
District electoral officers |
| • |
Deputy district electoral officers |
| • |
District registrar of voters, deputy district registrar
of voters |
|
| • |
Supervising voting officers, where a voting place has
more than 1 voting station |
| • |
Special ballot coordinators |
|
– |
| Yukon |
Returning officers, after consultation with Chief Electoral
Officer |
Assistant returning officers |
| • |
Enumerators |
| • |
Revising officers |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
| • |
Poll attendants |
| • |
Interpreters |
| • |
Ballot box messengers |
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| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Poll attendants |
| • |
Interpreters |
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| Northwest Territories |
– |
Returning officers |
| • |
Assistant returning officers |
| • |
Enumerators |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
| • |
Central poll supervisors, where a central polling place
has 5 or more polling stations |
|
| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Interpreters |
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| Nunavut |
– |
Returning officers |
| • |
Assistant returning officers |
| • |
Deputy returning officers |
|
| • |
Poll clerks |
| • |
Interpreters |
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