Site MenuThe Evolution of the Duties to be Fulfilled by Poll Staff with Regards to Registration and Voting on Polling Day and Advance Polling Days, 1920 to 2012
APPENDIX 2: Duties of deputy returning officers and
poll clerks in 1920
| Officer | Duty or Power | Sections of the Dominion Elections Act |
|---|---|---|
| DRO | Appoint poll clerk | 26 |
| DRO | Receive from RO ballot papers, certified number thereof, material for voters to mark their ballots, directions for guidance of voters, etc. | 45(1) |
| DRO | Receive from RO ballot box, blank poll book, forms for oaths, sealing wax and other relevant stationery | 45(4) |
| DRO | Keep material supplied by RO locked in ballot box | 46 |
| DRO | Furnish to RO name and occupation of poll clerk | 47 |
| DRO | Procure ballot box whenever RO fails to provide one to DRO | 49(4) |
| DRO or PC | Administer oath of secrecy to agents of each candidate who helped a voter to mark his or her ballot | 52(2) |
| DRO | Receive applications for transfer certificates from electors entitled to vote under a transfer certificate | 53(1) |
| DRO or PC | Receive oath of persons voting under a transfer certificate | 53(6) |
| PC | Enter in poll book mention that voter voted under a transfer certificate, number of such certificate and position filled by voter at polling station | 53(7) |
| DRO | Upon request by agents and electors present, count ballot papers before opening of the poll | 54(1) |
| DRO | Receive votes of electors at polling station | 55(6) |
| DRO | At or before opening of poll, cause printed directions to voters to be posted up in conspicuous places in and outside polling station | 55(7) |
| DRO and PC | At hour fixed for opening poll, open ballot box and ascertain that there are no ballot papers or other papers therein, then lock box | 56(1) |
| DRO | Keep key of ballot box; place box on table in full view of people present | 56(1) |
| DRO | Call upon electors to vote | 56(2) |
| DRO | Secure admittance of electors into polling station and see that they are not impeded or "molested" (bothered) | 56(3) |
| PC | Enter in poll book name and occupation of each elector, with a number before each voter's name | 56(4) |
| DRO and PC | May require voters to be sworn in on valid disqualification grounds | 58 |
| PC | Make additions, alterations and erasures to list of voters, as directed by DRO | 59(a) |
| PC | Enter "Voted" in poll book opposite name of each voter who has voted | 59(b) |
| PC | Enter "Sworn" or "Affirmed" opposite name of each voter to whom oath or affirmation has been administered, indicating nature of oath/affidavit | 59(c) |
| PC | Enter "Refused to be sworn/to affirm/to answer" opposite name of each voter who has done so | 59(d) |
| DRO and PC | Maintain and aid in maintaining secrecy of the vote | 60 |
| DRO | Initial ballot paper, place on back of counterfoil a number corresponding to that placed opposite voter's name in poll book | 62(1), 62(6) |
| DRO | Hand ballot paper to voter | 62(1) |
| DRO | Instruct voter on how and where to mark ballot paper, fold ballot paper and direct voter to return it when marked | 62(2) |
| DRO | Receive marked ballot paper from voter, ascertain by examination of initials, official stamp and number that it is same ballot paper given | 62(3) |
| DRO | Remove and destroy counterfoil | 62(3) |
| DRO | Deposit ballot in ballot box | 62(3) |
| DRO | If counterfoil was not removed before depositing ballot in box, remove counterfoil at counting of ballots | 62(3) |
| DRO | Receive from voter ballot paper spoiled by voter, deface it, and deliver another ballot paper in its place | 62(4) |
| DRO | Allow a voter to vote if he or she has established to DRO's satisfaction that another voter has previously voted in his or her place | 62(5) |
| DRO or PC | Administer to such person appropriate oath, depending on whether name of voter is or is not on list of voters | 62(5) |
| PC | Enter in poll book name of voter who has established that another voter has previously voted under the same name | 62(6)(a) |
| PC | Note that such voter has voted on a second ballot paper issued under same name, and that oath of identity has been required and taken | 62(6)(b) |
| PC | Enter in poll book any objections made on behalf of any candidate, and indicate candidate | 62(6)(c) |
| DRO | Receive application from voter who is unable to read or is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting | 62(7) |
| DRO | Require such voter to make oath of his or her incapacity to vote without assistance | 62(7) |
| DRO | Assist such voter by marking his or her ballot paper in manner directed by such voter in presence of candidates' agents | 62(7) |
| DRO | Place such ballot in ballot box | 62(7) |
| PC | Enter in poll book opposite such voter's name reason why such ballot paper was marked for him or her | 62(8) |
| DRO | Swear an interpreter when DRO does not understand language spoken by voter | 62(9) |
| DRO | Prevent such voter from voting if no interpreter is found | 62(9) |
| DRO | In rural polling divisions, receive application from resident voter whose name is not on list of voters and is vouched for by other registered voter | 63(1) |
| DRO or PC | Administer oaths to such voter and to registered voter who vouches for such voter | 63(1) |
| DRO | Cause applicant's name to be added to list of voters | 63(1) |
| PC | Enter "Sworn" beside name of such person on list of voters | 63(1) |
| DRO | Be a conservator of the peace invested with all the powers appertaining to a justice of the peace | 64(1) |
| DRO or PC | Upon request on behalf of a candidate, take on oath affirmation of persons charging that personation or fraud has been committed | 64(2) |
| DRO | May detain or direct the detention of person charged with personation | 64(3) |
| PC | Exercise authority of a constable for carrying out provisions of Act respecting summary proceedings in cases of personation | 64(7) |
| DRO | Appoint a constable for carrying out provisions of Act respecting summary proceedings in cases of personation | 64(7) |
| DRO | May require any person within half a mile of polling station to deliver to him or her any offensive weapon in the hands of such person | 65(1) |
| Officer | Duty or Power | Sections of the Dominion Elections Act |
|---|---|---|
| DRO | After close of poll, place all spoiled ballots in envelope and seal it | 66(1) |
| DRO | Count number of voters whose names appear in poll book as having voted | 66(1) |
| DRO | Enter such number in poll book below name of voter who voted last, and sign his or her name thereto | 66(1) |
| DRO | Open ballot box and proceed to count number of votes given for each candidate, giving to those present opportunity to examine each ballot | 66(1) |
| DRO | Reject ballot papers which have not been supplied by him or her | 66(2)(a) |
| DRO | Reject ballot papers marked for more candidates than are to be elected | 66(2)(b) |
| DRO | Reject ballot papers upon which there is a mark by which voter could be identified | 66(2)(c) |
| DRO | Take a note of objections to ballot papers found in ballot box; number such objections | 66(3) |
| DRO | Address any question arising from such objections | 66(3) |
| DRO | On back of ballot paper objected to, place number corresponding to the objection | 66(3) |
| DRO | Count number of votes for each candidate, number of rejected votes | 66(4) |
| DRO | Put ballot papers marked for each candidate into separate envelopes | 66(4) |
| DRO | Put rejected, spoiled and unused ballot papers into separate envelopes | 66(4) |
| DRO | Identify contents of each envelope | 66(4) |
| DRO | Seal each envelope | 66(4) |
| DRO and PC | Take and subscribe to oaths in forms 42 and 43, respectively | 66(5) |
| DRO | Prepare the statement, in triplicate, of results from the counting of the vote | 66(6) |
| DRO | Keep 1 of the 3 copies of this statement | 66(6) |
| DRO | Enclose 1 of the 3 copies in a special envelope, to be sealed and deposited in the ballot box | 66(6) |
| DRO | Fill blank expense voucher, have it signed by officials entitled to fees, certify the same, place it into envelope to be deposited in ballot box | 66(6) |
| DRO | Deliver to each candidate's agents a certificate of the number of votes given for each candidate and number of rejected ballot papers | 66(6) |
| DRO | Mail such certificates to each candidate by registered letter to his or her address | 66(6) |
| DRO and PC | Place poll book, envelopes and all documents in a large envelope and seal the envelope | 66(7) |
| DRO | Place large envelope and 2 other envelopes in ballot box, lock ballot box and seal it | 66(7) |
| DRO | Deliver ballot box to RO | 66(7) |
| Officer | Duty or Power | Sections of the Dominion Elections Act |
|---|---|---|
| DRO | Receive from voter certificate of his or her right to vote | 100(9) |
| DRO | Attend signature by voter of statement of identification (Form 53) | 100(9) |
| DRO | Receive declaration from voter (Form 54) | 100(9) |
| PC | Assist DRO as required, preserving each certificate deposited and marking thereon such notations that would be made in poll book | 100(12) |
| DRO | Check whether certificate in Form 53 has been issued by a registrar or revising officer of another electoral district | 100(13) |
| DRO | Reject application to vote at advance poll based on such certificates | 100(13) |
| DRO | At close of poll each day, unseal and open ballot box | 100(14)(a) |
| DRO | Empty ballots (not opened) into special envelope and seal such envelope | 100(14)(b)-(c) |
| DRO | Count unused ballots and Form 53 certificates which up to that time have been presented | 100(14)(d) |
| DRO | Place unused ballots and Form 53 certificates in another envelope, and seal that envelope | 100(14)(f)-(g) |
| DRO | Place both envelopes in ballot box, lock and seal box | 100(14) |
| DRO | At re-opening of poll each day, open ballot box, take out and open envelope containing unused ballots | 100(14) |
| DRO | Lock the ballot box | 100(15) |
| DRO and PC | At the end of regular polling day, open ballot box and sealed envelopes | 100(15) |
| DRO and PC | Count votes, etc. in ballot box | 100(16) |
DRO = deputy returning officer
PC = poll clerk
RO = returning officer