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Advisory Committee of Political Parties – Meeting Summary – February 13 and 14, 2019

6. Operations at the Polls

Presenters: Dawn Borutskie (Assistant Director, Revision and Voting Services) and Paul Legault (Director, Field Governance and Personnel Readiness)

Ms. Borutskie began the session with an overview of the requirements around statements of electors who voted. On that topic, she discussed Elections Canada’s intention to explore more efficient and easy mechanisms including electronic formats and possibly using PESC for distributing so-called “bingo sheets”. She also outlined the requirements where there have been no changes. She then discussed the impact of Bill C-76 on advance poll voting hours and, consequently, on staffing changes with regards to poll workers to accommodate these additional hours.

Mr. Legault discussed the impacts of Bill C-76 on the recruitment of poll workers. Specifically he outlined changes impacting on recommendations from political parties for the staffing of election officer positions and also changes to age and residency requirements for poll workers stemming from C-76.

The session concluded with a question and answer period with ACPP members. Elections Canada answered questions including:

  • The legal requirement for so-called “bingo cards”;
  • The challenge of recruiting poll workers given the long working hours over Thanksgiving weekend;
  • Advance poll opening hours (will always be 12 hours as legislated in the Canada Elections Act); and
  • Increased demand for advanced polls.