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Assessing Elections Canada's performance in the administration of the 43rd general election

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament and is composed of two entities: Elections Canada and the Commissioner of Canada Elections. This report focuses on the activities of Elections Canada in administering the 43rd general election, held on October 21, 2019.

A new legislative landscape was created under Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act, which amended the Canada Elections Act. These amendments had to be implemented by the Chief Electoral Officer in a very short time frame ahead of the 43rd general election.

One of the bill's focuses was on ensuring a level playing field for political entities and enhancing the transparency of third-party activities. Relevant changes include:

  • a new regulated pre-election period
  • an expanded third-party regime to capture a broader range of activities
  • a requirement for political parties to adopt and publish a privacy policy
  • a requirement for digital platforms to maintain a registry for political advertising

Other changes affected services to electors, including:

  • modified rules for members of the Canadian Armed Forces
  • modified voter identification rules, such as the use of the voter information card as proof of address
  • modified requirements for Canadians living abroad, such as allowing them to vote regardless of how long they have been living outside Canada

More information about the legislative changes for the 43rd general election is available in the Report on the 43rd General Election of October 21, 2019 (statutory report).

Departmental Results Framework Elections Canada's Results

  • Canadians can exercise their democratic rights to vote and be a candidate
  • Canadians receive electoral information and services that meet their needs
  • Canada maintains a fair, secure and transparent electoral process free of undue influence

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer's Departmental Results Framework sets out the core responsibilities, expected outcomes and performance measures for the work conducted by Elections Canada. The present report summarizes Election's Canada's success in delivering the 43rd general election, as measured against established performance indicators, and identifies areas for improvement going forward.

The scope of this report spans mainly from June 30, 2019—the day that marked the beginning of the new pre-election period—to election day (October 21, 2019). Certain preparatory and closing activities are also covered. The report evaluates the performance of specific election activities using information and data collected from:

The report also reflects findings from the Independent audit report on the performance of the duties and functions of election officers, completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.