Site MenuPandemic Election – Advisory Group on Disability Issues (AGDI) – Meeting Summary November 24, 2020
Presenter: Mario Lavoie (Acting Director for Voting Operations), Annabelle O'Keeffe (Acting Assistant Director, Polling Location Management Services) and Sophie Martineau (Acting Director, Alternative Voting Methods and Operational Outreach)
Mr. Lavoie stated that Elections Canada has been in the process of implementing adaptive voting measures in an ever-changing public safety environment, with the aim of offering safe voting services. There are two sets of measures required for the conduct of the next general election: a series of measures that require legislative changes, and a series of measures that could be implemented without legislative changes. Adaptations that require legislative changes include the shift from one to two election days (on Saturday and Sunday instead of the traditional Monday), which the CEO has recommended to Parliament. The CEO also recommended a change to advance polling days, from Thursday until Sunday. A General Election Pandemic Intelligence Task Force (GEPI TF) has been created to monitor, plan, and coordinate the agency's operational response to public health-related situations and incidents. Mr. Lavoie also noted that health and safety measures EC is preparing to implement will not require changes to the legislation.
Regarding voting by special ballot and the community relations programs, Elections Canada's recommendations to Parliament included a request for greater flexibility in how and when the voting in long-term care facilities can be administered in response to the rather high risks associated for these electors. Returning officers will continue to have the opportunity and be encouraged to hire Community Relations Officers (CROs) for any of the target groups (seniors in LTC, youth, electors with disabilities, official Languages/ethno-cultural, Indigenous, and electors who are homeless).
Advisory Group members offered feedback about how to enhance the voting experience for people with disabilities in the pandemic context, while highlighting some of the barriers faced by people with disabilities. On health and safety, EC was encouraged to procure clear masks for workers as well as unscented sanitizer. On voting assistance, there was a question on whether an elector would be able to enact power of attorney and have someone from their family vote for them or send their ballot to their power of attorney representative in order to assist them with voting. EC noted that federally, power of attorney is not permitted for voting. It was also noted by committee members that people with accessibility issues are also limited on how much distance they can cover in going to a voting poll which can be a considerable challenge. It was advised that all EC staff working at polls do not carry the assumption that everyone is able bodied. It was strongly suggested to have pop-up voting locations in long term care locations and exploring what accommodation measures could be put in place for those persons who are not able to remain standing for lengthy periods of time.