Computers in a Canadian Election

Preparing for a general election
-Because the length of time between elections is not a set period, Elections Canada must always be ready to deliver a general election.

-The agency updates the National Register of Electors year-round, trains new returning officers and prepares tonnes of supplies.

-In the field, returning officers setup polling divisions and select potential locations for polling stations.

National Register of Electors
-The National Register of Electors is a database of Canadians who are qualified to vote. It contains name, address, sex and date of birth.

-The information in the National Register of Electors is used to produce the preliminary voter’s lists for federal elections, by-elections and referendums.

Setting up polling divisions
-To facilitate the vote, every electoral district must be divided into polling divisions, each serving an average of some 400 electors and a voters list must be drawn up for each of these divisions.

-Polling divisions are also used to direct electors to their specific voting location. There are some 65,000 polling divisions across the country.

Selecting locations for polling stations

-Returning officers select convenient and accessible locations for polling stations, for both election day and advance voting.

-Polling stations are usually set up in well-known central locations with level access, such as community centres and schools.

-NQW has more than 200 Polling Stations

Four Phases of an Election

Phase 1: Election is called

-As soon as an election is called, EC informs electors of the date of the election.

-All the computers, terminals, telephones and other supplies are loaded into hundreds of trucks going to all parts of Canada.

Phase 2: Voter information cards (VICs)

-Every elector on the preliminary lists is sent a VIC, with the dates and places for advance and election day voting and other important information, & how to reach the returning officer and Elections Canada.

Phase 3: Advance voting

-Before the advance polls open, EC lets voters know how they could vote in advance: by mail using the special ballot or in person at a returning office, or at advance poll locations in their home ridings over three days.

Phase 4: Election day

-Toward the end of the election period, advertisements highlighted the fact that people who had not already done so could still register on election day; this was meant to encourage them to get out and vote.

How and Why Computers are Used

-To up-date voter changes

-To inform voters where to vote

-Deleting/Adding/Splitting Polls

-To track all the phases of an election and ensure all the tasks are done on time

-To list polling stations, leases & payment

-EC payroll

-Voter lists and CDs for Political Parties

Voter Changes to Up-date

-13% have an address change

-2% have reached the voting age of 18

-1% are new citizens

-1% are deaths

That is allot of change and all is done by computer.

Returning Office Staff.

Computer equipment used in a Returning Office

Distribution of votes by voting method 1997–2006

More citizens using Advance Polls, Special Ballots and Mobile polling stations.

EC Tries to Get Every Vote

-Mobile voting stations – Nursing homes, hospitals

-Homeless - Register at a hostel

-Brail and large print ballot are available

-Voting at home in the presence of an electoral officer and a witness is available

-Assistance in marking the ballot

-Language or sign-language interpreter

-Mail in

-Revising agents carry out door-to-door revision in targeted areas, such as in new subdivisions.

Computers, software, and data bases are used to make an election run smoothly.

Canada has a world reputation for our well run elections. Canada has helped other countries to run an election.

Charlie Le Ber