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Appendix C – Detailed report – IntroductionIndependent audit report on the performance of the duties and functions of election officers – 44th General Election

1.1 Background

As required by section 164.1 (S.164.1) of the Canada Elections Act (CEA or "the Act"), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) was engaged by Elections Canada (EC) to perform an independent, statutory audit and report on whether election officers have properly exercised the powers conferred on them under the Act, or properly performed the duties imposed on them, under sections specified by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Those sections were sections 143 to 149, 161, 162 and 169 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the relevant sections of the Act').

1.2 Roles and responsibilities of election officers

For an elector who is on the List of Electors and has the appropriate identification, the election officer at the voting desk is responsible for obtaining and reviewing the elector's ID and establishing that the elector is entitled to vote by performing a series of duties, as prescribed by the CEA, prior to providing a ballot and documenting that they have voted.

Additionally, election officers must administer special procedures for all electors whose identity and/or address is going to be vouched for, who are not on the List of Electors, whose name has been previously crossed off the List of Electors as having voted, or who require minor corrections to their information. Depending on the circumstances, special procedures include completing the appropriate certificate or form and asking the elector (and the voucher, as applicable) to make a declaration as indicated on the certificate or form.

Once the election officer is satisfied that the elector is entitled to vote, they are issued a ballot. During the process of serving an elector at the registration desk and while voting at the voting desk, the CEA prescribes certain duties that must be performed, including record-keeping tasks. For the purposes of this audit, only the duties outlined under the relevant sections of the Act are in scope. Below is a summarized list of the primary roles and responsibilities of election officers under the relevant sections of the act; while not comprehensive, this list demonstrates key duties performed by relevant election officers.

  • Admitting voters, including review of proof of identity and residence to determine qualification to vote;
  • Registering voters whose name is not on the list of Electors;
  • Completing, authorizing, and signing forms and certificates;
  • Administering declarations to voters as required;
  • Updating the List of Entries for specific declarations, forms and certificates; and
  • Issuing ballots and marking electors off as having voted as soon as their ballot has been cast.