Subjects: CPN, PSF, CFG
Government introduces legislation to support safe, secure and accessible voting during the pandemic
OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 10, 2020 /CNW/ - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on new challenges to the way elections are administered ? in Canada and around the world. Canadians deserve to have full confidence in their ability to exercise their democratic rights safely in these unprecedented times.
Today, the Government introduced legislation that would temporarily supplement provisions of the Canada Elections Act (the Act) and mitigate potential challenges associated with administering an election during the pandemic in the event an election were to occur.
If passed, these measures will provide Elections Canada with additional tools to administer an election during the pandemic in a manner that is safe for voters and election workers. Most importantly, they will maximize opportunities for Canadians to exercise their democratic rights, while ensuring the integrity of the electoral process that Canadians know and count on. Measures include the establishment of a three-day polling period, expanded opportunities to securely vote by mail, flexibility to allow for safe voting in long-term care facilities and facilities with persons living with disabilities, and increased authority for the Chief Electoral Officer to adjust provisions of the Act as needed to ensure the health and safety of voters and election workers.
These temporary changes will provide Canadians with increased opportunities to vote in person while facilitating physical distancing by spreading out the vote over multiple days. In addition, for those who may not have the ability to vote in person or who may not feel comfortable doing so, enhanced mail-in voting measures will ensure the system is easy to use, accessible and responsive to the voters' needs?especially those who are most vulnerable during the pandemic. While the pandemic has led to significant changes in the everyday lives of Canadians, it should not affect their ability to vote.
Quotes
"Since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has been committed to Canadians' safety. In response, we are introducing these temporary amendments to the Canada Elections Act. This will ensure the health and safety of voters, election workers and all participants in Canada's electoral system. By introducing these temporary amendments, Elections Canada will be able to offer more ways for Canadians to vote during a pandemic. I look forward to working with my parliamentary colleagues to deliver our shared goal of a free, fair and safe election."
? The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Quick Facts
- In Canada, the need for physical distancing and other public health measures initially resulted in the postponement of some elections at the provincial and municipal levels. Since then, election officials at all levels of government have undertaken efforts to ensure they can safely administer an election during the pandemic.
- These temporary legislative amendments complement and build on recommendations made by the Chief Electoral officer on October 5, 2020, in his Special Report on voting during a pandemic.
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BACKGROUNDER
On December 10, 2020, the Government introduced legislation that would temporarily supplement provisions of the Canada Elections Act (the Act) to provide more flexibility to Elections Canada for the safe administration of an election during the pandemic. If passed, the special measures will provide Elections Canada with additional tools to ensure that?in spite of the pandemic?elections can be held in a safe and effective manner in which electors are given unprecedented opportunities to cast their ballot.
The amendments include:
- a three-day polling period with eight hours of voting on Saturday and Sunday, and 12 hours of voting on the Monday. This amendment aims to facilitate physical distancing at polling station;
- a 13 day period prior to the beginning of polling to facilitate the administration of the vote in long-term care facilities and in which persons living with disabilities reside. This aims to ensure senior citizens and our most vulnerable have more opportunities to safely exercise their democratic rights;
- increased adaptation powers for the Chief Electoral Officer for the purposes of ensuring the health and safety of electors and election workers in a pandemic-specific framework;
- measures to improve access to mail-in voting for all Canadians in several ways including the installation of mail reception boxes at every polling location and allowing for the receipt of online applications for mail-in ballots.
The legislative measures would be temporary and would only apply to an election called 90 days after Royal Assent. These special legislative measures would cease to be in effect 6 months - or at an earlier date determined by the CEO - after a notice by the Chief Electoral Officer in the Canada Gazette that indicates the measures are no longer necessary in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This notice would only be issued following consultation with the Chief Public Health Officer.
These temporary legislative amendments complement and build on recommendations made by the Chief Electoral Officer in his Special Report on voting during a pandemic and will further ensure voting remains accessible.
For more information, please visit:
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https://www.canada.ca/en/democratic-institutions.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CdnDemocracy
SOURCE Minister for Democratic Institutions
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