All About Elections Canada, The Non-Partisan Body Behind The Polls

Canada is set to hold its federal election on April 28. Originally scheduled for October 20, the election date was moved forward when the Governor General dissolved Parliament at Prime Minister Mark Carney's recommendation. Elections Canada, a non-partisan agency, oversees the electoral process, including voter registration, candidate nominations and vote counting.

The role of Elections Canada mirrors that of the Election Commission of India, which is tasked with administering elections at the national, state, and local levels.

About Elections Canada

Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency responsible for managing federal elections. Its primary role is to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, transparently and in compliance with Canadian law.

Responsibilities

• Voter Registration: Elections Canada maintains the National Register of Electors, which is a database of eligible voters. It ensures that every eligible Canadian is registered to vote.
• Running Elections: The agency organises the entire electoral process, including setting the date of elections, overseeing polling stations, and ensuring that votes are accurately counted.
• Candidate Nominations: Elections Canada handles the process by which candidates are nominated to run for office in federal elections. It ensures that candidates meet the required legal criteria.
• Voter Education: Conducts outreach programmes to inform citizens about the voting process, the importance of voting, and the logistics involved in casting a ballot.
• Election Oversight: It monitors political party activities to ensure compliance with election laws, including rules regarding campaign finance and advertising.
• Electoral Integrity: The agency is responsible for ensuring the security of the electoral process, preventing fraud, and promoting fairness throughout the election period.

Structure

Elections Canada operates under the Chief Electoral Officer, who is appointed by the House of Commons for a term of 10 years.

How Elections Canada Handles It

From setting up polling stations to training staff, printing ballots, and even monitoring social media disinformation, Elections Canada looks after every detail. The agency also manages advance voting, mail-in ballots, and voter identification rules, which differ from province to province.

One of its most important roles is maintaining the National Register of Electors, a constantly updated database of eligible voters. Canadians can register or update their address online, by phone, or in person - even at the polls.

Once voting ends on April 28, preliminary results are usually announced the same night. It takes an additional two to three days to validate all ballots - checking for errors or recount triggers - before making the results official.