Report on the 2020 By-elections

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March 31, 2021

The Honourable Anthony Rota, P.C., M.P.
Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am pleased to provide my report on the by-elections held on October 26, 2020, in the federal electoral districts of Toronto Centre (Ontario) and York Centre (Ontario).

I have prepared the report in accordance with subsection 534(2) of the Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9. Under section 536 of the Act, the Speaker shall submit this report to the House of Commons without delay.

The report includes a summary of the official voting results and other information on the by-elections.

For more information, please see the Elections Canada website at elections.ca.

Yours sincerely,

Stéphane Perrault
Chief Electoral Officer

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Table of Contents

• Foreword
• 1. Launching the By-elections
  • COVID-19 pandemic affecting the by-elections
  • Issue of the writs
  • Opening Elections Canada offices; hiring and training election workers
  • Working with political entities
    • Candidates and registered political parties
    • Election expenses limits
  • Pandemic-related adaptive measures
    • Electors consenting to candidacy
    • Candidate solemn declaration by videoconference
    • Campaign guidance for canvassing during the COVID-19
• 2. Information Campaign for Electors
  • Objectives of the campaign
    • Multimedia campaign
    • Social media
    • Website
    • Enquiries from electors
    • Direct mail
    • Community relations and outreach
    • Media Relations
• 3. Voter Registration Services
  • National Register of Electors
    • Coverage, currency and accuracy of the Register
    • Revision period
• 4. Voting Services
  • Polling places
  • Voting
    • Voting at assigned advance and election day polling places
    • Voting by mail or at an Elections Canada office
  • Voter turnout
  • Projects enabled by IT Services
• 5. Maintaining Security and Integrity
  • Elections Canada's role in electoral security
  • Role of the Commissioner of Canada Elections
• 6. Concluding the By-elections
  • Election results
  • Validation of results and return of writs
  • Complaints
  • Reporting obligations after polling day
  • Cost of the by-elections
  • Compliance with procedures
  • Surveys
• Appendix
  • Registered political parties during the 2020 by-elections

• Next