By-election November 26, 2012 – Official Voting Results
Nomination of candidates
The candidates in the by-elections had until 2:00 p.m. on November 5, 2012, to file their nomination papers in accordance with the date published in the Notice of Election by the returning officers.
In Calgary Centre, five registered parties nominated candidates: the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Libertarian Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party. There was one independent candidate. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.
In Durham, six registered parties nominated candidates: the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party and the Online Party of Canada. There were no independent candidates. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.
In Victoria, six registered parties nominated candidates: the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Libertarian Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party. There were no independent candidates. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.
Registered electors
For the November 2012 by-elections, there were 90,663 names on the preliminary lists of electors in Calgary Centre; 94,137 names on the preliminary lists for Durham; and 88,083 names on the preliminary lists for Victoria. The lists were produced from information in the National Register of Electors. During the revision period, which extended from October 24 until November 20, 2012, 5,502 electors were registered in Calgary Centre. In Durham, 3,041 electors were registered. In Victoria, 4,341 electors were registered. These figures include electors who were already on the lists but had changed addresses.
The names recorded on the final lists of electors (that is, the lists prepared after election day) numbered 94,582 in Calgary Centre; 95,710 in Durham; and 90,942 in Victoria.
The final lists included the names of electors who registered on election day, some of whom had changed addresses. In Calgary Centre, 645 electors registered on election day, while 1,913 registered in Durham and 3,144 registered in Victoria.
Polling stations
On election day, the ordinary polling stations were open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Calgary Centre; from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) in Durham; and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) in Victoria.
The returning officer in Calgary Centre set up 248 ordinary polling stations, 236 of which were stationary. In Durham, there were 220 ordinary polling stations, 218 of which were stationary. In Victoria, there were 237 ordinary polling stations, 220 of which were stationary.
In addition, the Act provides for the establishment of mobile polling stations to collect the votes of seniors and persons with disabilities who live in long-term care facilities. These polling stations, which serve polling divisions with at least two institutions, travel from institution to institution and remain open at each place only as long as necessary to enable the electors present to vote. In the November 2012 by-election in Calgary Centre, 12 mobile polling stations were established to serve 2,599 electors. In Durham, 2 mobile polling stations were established for 361 electors. In Victoria, 17 mobile polling stations were established for 2,797 electors.
The returning officer is required to set up advance polling stations to collect the votes of electors who cannot or do not wish to go to their ordinary polling stations on election day. The electoral district of Calgary Centre had 11 advance polling stations, while Durham had 14 and Victoria had 17. All the advance polling stations were open from noon to 8:00 p.m. (local time) on November 16, 17 and 19.
Voter turnout
A total of 27,732 electors cast a ballot in the by-election in Calgary Centre, a participation rate of 29.3%. Of these electors, 24,478 (or 88.3%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.
In Durham, 34,183 electors cast a ballot in the by-election, a participation rate of 35.7%. Of these electors, 28,782 (or 84.2%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.
In Victoria, 39,130 electors cast a ballot in the by-election, a participation rate of 43.0%. Of these electors, 32,611 (or 83.3%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.
Voting method | Calgary Centre | Durham | Victoria | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
Ordinary polling stations | 24,478 | 88.3 | 28,782 | 84.2 | 32,611 | 83.3 |
Advance polling stations | 2,667 | 9.6 | 4,890 | 14.3 | 5,749 | 14.7 |
Special Voting Rules – Group 1* | 41 | 0.1 | 17 | 0.0 | 72 | 0.2 |
Special Voting Rules – Group 2** | 546 | 2.0 | 494 | 1.4 | 698 | 1.8 |
Total | 27,732 | 100 | 34,183 | 100*** | 39,130 | 100 |
*Includes Canadian citizens temporarily residing outside Canada, members of the Canadian Forces (except members of the Canadian Forces who voted at the polling station established for the polling division of their place of ordinary residence) and incarcerated electors.
**Includes Canadian citizens residing in Canada who voted by special ballot in or outside their electoral districts.
***Due to rounding, figures do not add up to total shown.
Candidates elected
In the November 2012 by-elections, the Conservative Party of Canada candidate, Joan Crockatt, was declared elected in Calgary Centre once the validation of results was completed. The Conservative Party of Canada candidate, Erin O'Toole, was declared elected in Durham once the validation of results was completed. In Victoria, the New Democratic Party candidate, Murray Rankin, was declared elected once the validation of results was completed.
Following these by-elections, the distribution of seats in the House of Commons was:
Conservative Party of Canada | 165 |
New Democratic Party | 101 |
Liberal Party of Canada | 35 |
Bloc Québécois | 4 |
Green Party of Canada | 1 |
Independent | 2 |
Vacant | 0 |
Total | 308 |