An Electoral Framework for the 21st Century Recommendations from the Chief Electoral Officer
This table shows select key recommendations to amend the Canada Elections Act, based on three objectives:
- Accessibility and Inclusiveness
- Flexibility and Effectiveness
- Fairness and Integrity
Chapter 1 - Modernizing Canada's Electoral Process
- Allow flexibility in distributing tasks among election workers A1
- Redefine the term polling station, so polling places can be redesigned for greater efficiency A2
- Reduce prescriptiveness of the counting regime to allow for potential use of technology A3
- Reduce prescriptiveness of oaths to lessen complexity A4
- Restore Chief Electoral Officer's public education and information mandate A5
- Allow pre-registration of 16- and 17-year-olds A6
- Allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to share information on non-citizens A7
- Allow voter information card to be used as proof of address, with another piece of ID A8
- Allow attestation with a single piece of ID; in some cases, allow multiple attestations A9
- Allow more electors to take advantage of provisions that grant assistance for electors with disabilities and allow people other than election workers to help electors with disabilities A10
- Make transfer certificates available to more electors with disabilities A11
- Expand voting at home to all electors with disabilities whose polling places are not accessible A12
- Allow curbside voting for electors with disabilities A13
- Raise standards for polling place accessibility beyond requiring level access A14
- Modify pilot project approval process; require Elections Canada to pilot ways to assist electors with disabilities A15
- Open advance polls at 9:00 a.m. instead of noon A16
- Remove requirement for voters to sign record of votes cast at advance polls A17
- Allow mobile advance polls in low-density areas A18
- Allow electors who apply online to print a special ballot A19
- Make prohibitions related to ballots and voter fraud clearer and more consistent A20
- Set a maximum length for the election period A21
- Move election day to a Saturday or Sunday A22
- Allow appointment of returning officers, assistant returning officers and additional assistant returning officers who live in the riding or in one adjacent to it A23
- Allow appointment of election officers who live outside the riding or are 16 or 17 years old, without the Chief Electoral Officer's authorization A24
- Remove waiting period for the appointment of election officers not nominated by parties A25
- Create a less restrictive candidate nomination process A26
- Require candidates to show ID to establish their name for the ballot A27
Chapter 2 - Improving the Political Finance Regulatory Regime
- Implement administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) to enforce some parts of the Act A28
- Tighten rules so riding associations cannot avoid filing obligations or get unregulated money A29
- Lift requirement for campaigns with expenses and contributions under $10,000 to have an audit A30
- Provide a subsidy to official agents who complete Elections Canada training and file election returns on time A31
- Make Federal Court responsible for reviews or applications on political financing to ensure rules are applied consistently across provinces and territories A32
- Allow Commissioner of Canada Elections to compel testimony A33
- Authorize Commissioner of Canada Elections to lay charges A34
- Expand scope of compliance agreements the Commissioner of Canada Elections may enter into A35
- Amend definition of leadership and nomination campaign expenses A36
- Enact fairer rules for candidates’ expenses related to childcare, a disability or litigation A37
- Reimburse parties and candidates for expenses paid to accommodate electors with disabilities A38
- Provide a fairer broadcasting regime for political parties A39