Elections Canada (french: Élections Canada)
[The agency operates and brands itself as Elections Canada, its legal title is Office of the Chief Electoral Officer ().] is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering
Canadian federal elections
This article provides a summary of results for Canadian general elections (where all seats are contested) to the House of Commons, the elected lower half of Canada's federal bicameral legislative body, the Parliament of Canada. The number of s ...
and
referendums
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...
. Elections Canada is an office of the
Parliament of Canada, and reports directly to Parliament rather than to the
Government of Canada
The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...
.
Mandate
Its responsibilities include:
* Making sure that all voters have access to the electoral system
* Informing citizens about the electoral system
* Maintaining the
National Register of Electors
The National Register of Electors (french: Registre national des électeurs) is a continuously updated permanent database of eligible electors for federal elections in Canada maintained by Elections Canada. It was established in December 1996 wh ...
* Enforcing electoral legislation
* Training election officers
* Producing maps of electoral districts
* Registering political parties, electoral district associations, and third parties that engage in election advertising
* Administering the allowances paid to registered political parties
* Monitoring election spending by candidates, political parties and third parties
* Publishing financial information on political parties, electoral district associations, candidates, nomination contestants, leadership contestants and third parties
* Supporting the independent commissions responsible for adjusting the boundaries of federal
electoral districts
An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other polity ...
every ten years
* Reporting to Parliament on the administration of elections and referendums
The
House of Commons of Canada appoints the
chief electoral officer to head the agency. The chief electoral officer in turn appoints the commissioner of Canada elections, who ensures that the ''
Canada Elections Act'' is enforced; and the broadcasting arbitrator, who allocates paid and free broadcasting time during electoral events. The chief electoral officer is seconded by the deputy chief electoral officer, chief legal counsel and a staff of some 330 representing five executive directorates. During an election, staff at Elections Canada headquarters increases to 600 and to approximately 190,000 across Canada. Members of the general public are recruited to help run the election by manning polling stations, counting ballots, answering voters' questions, and providing other necessary services.
Compliance and enforcement
Compliance and Enforcement of Canadian election law is the responsibility of the
commissioner of Canada elections
The Commissioner of Canada Elections (french: Commissaire aux élections fédérales) is responsible for enforcing the Canada Elections Act, the primary electoral law in Canada, and the regulation of canadian federal elections and referendums ...
, an independent officer of Elections Canada.
The commissioner is appointed by the chief electoral officer in consultation with the
director of public prosecutions and has powers in order to compel testimony and evidence and lay charges.
See also
*
Elections in Canada
Canada holds elections for legislatures or governments in several jurisdictions: for the federal (national) government, provincial and territorial governments, and municipal governments. Elections are also held for self-governing First Nati ...
*
Commissioner of Canada Elections
The Commissioner of Canada Elections (french: Commissaire aux élections fédérales) is responsible for enforcing the Canada Elections Act, the primary electoral law in Canada, and the regulation of canadian federal elections and referendums ...
*
Federal political financing in Canada
The financing of federal political entities in Canada (including federal parties, riding associations, candidates, nomination contestants, leadership contestants, and registered third parties) is regulated under the Canada Elections Act. A combi ...
*
List of federal political parties in Canada
In contrast with the political party systems of many nations, Canadian political parties at the federal level are often only loosely connected with parties at the provincial level, despite having similar names and policy positions. One exception ...
*
In and Out scandal
The "In and Out" scandal was a Canadian political scandal involving improper election spending on the part of the Conservative Party of Canada during the closely contested 2006 Canadian federal election, 2006 federal election. Parliamentary hearing ...
*
Robocall scandal
The 2011 Canadian federal election voter suppression scandal (also known as the Robocall scandal, Robogate, or RoboCon) is a political scandal stemming from events during the 2011 Canadian federal election. It involved robocalls and real-perso ...
References
Notes
External links
*
Elections Canada's election financing databases
{{authority control
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
Federal departments and agencies of Canada
Government agencies established in 1920
1920 establishments in Canada
Organizations based in Gatineau