Elections Canada is making plans for an election that could come as early as this fall should the Liberals, who govern with a minority, fail to win a confidence vote when Parliament returns on Sept. 23.
According to the agency’s website–changes–if Parliament approves–could include among other things:
- A two-day weekend polling period (Saturday and Sunday) instead of the usual single polling day (Monday). This would facilitate distancing of voters, give access to a range of polling locations such as schools that would otherwise be unavailable and help to recruit poll workers.
- Providing returning officers with greater flexibility to safely serve electors in long-term care facilities by increasing the number of voting days and working with each facility to tailor the approach to their situation.
- Mail-in ballots sent before the deadline could continue to be accepted until the day following the two-day week-end polling period.
One change the agency is not considering is online voting.
“Implementing such a change would require significant planning and testing in order to ensure that the agency preserves certain aspects of the vote, including confidentiality, secrecy, reliability and integrity,” the website reads.
“Given the current operational and time constraints, this option can not be explored properly at this time.”
The CBC’s Kathleen Harris reports that Elections Canada is currently determining the cost of the proposed changes.
Formal recommendations will be put to Parliament in September, the website says, after Elections Canada consults with stakeholders and surveys Canadians.
With files from CBC News (Kathleen Harris), RCI, Government of Canada
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