Canadian Electoral Process Is the Canadian electoral process a suitable model for emerging democracies?

Take home messages… Understand the Canadian electoral process (rules) Assess if the process is free and fair and is a worthy model

Areas to explore today… Election: from writ to vote (stages) Free and Fair? Current Election

Election: from writ to vote (stages) How did we get here? In your group, determine 8 steps of the election from start to finish. Source: http://www.mackaycartoons.net/index.html

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Something goes wrong…. OR Things have been going really well, but…

Election: from writ to vote (stages) The writ (ing) is on the wall.

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Campaign Preparation Chief Electoral Officer Returning Offices Open Preliminary Voter Lists Established Nomination Papers Received

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Game On Ridings National 36 Days

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Early Birds and Jail Birds

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Get your vote on Eligible voters Polling hours Communicating results

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Validation Within 7 days The official results

Election: from writ to vote (stages) Election Reports Return of writs Chief Electoral Officer’s Reports

Election: from writ to vote (stages) By- Elections Special Circumstances Judicial Recounts Referendums

Election: from writ to vote (stages)

Free and Fair? How can we assess if the Canadian process is “free and fair”?