1. PowerPoint 7: The Voting Process

2. How to become a candidate How does a person become a candidate? First, he or she has to be nominated (or chosen) by fellow party members in his or her riding during a special meeting called a nomination meeting. If more than one person in the party wants to be a candidate for that riding, there is a vote during the nomination meeting to decide who it will be. If a person does not belong to a party, then he or she can run for election in his or her riding as an independent candidate.

3. Who are the Independent ‘s running in our riding? Independents: Nicolas Duchastel De Montroughe http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/09/15/can-t-vote-but-can-run-expat- canadian-aims-to-challenge-harper-in-calgary_n_8141992.html

4. Who are the Independent ‘s running in our riding? Independent Larry R. Heather is an aspiring politician and activist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was in the past a perennial candidate for the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, and has also campaigned in provincial and municipal elections. http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/harper-faces-long-list-of-challengers-in- calgary-heritage Korry Zepik Independent

5. Who else is running in our riding? Steven Paolasini Libertarian Party of Canada

6. Who is eligible to vote? You are qualified to vote in a Canadian federal election if: –You are a Canadian citizen, –You are at least 18 years of age on election day, –You can prove your identity and address. In order to cast a ballot in the election, you must be registered to vote.

7. How do I confirm my identity and address? To vote, you need to prove your identity and address. You have three options: 1.Show one piece of government-issued ID with your photo, name and address. 2.Show two pieces of ID. Both pieces must have your name, and one must also have your address. 3.Show two pieces of ID with your name and have someone who knows you confirm your address.

8. How does the voting process work? 1.When you enter the polling place, an election worker greets you and shows you to the right table. 2.At your table, show your proof of identity and address. 3.The election worker will initial, fold and hand you a ballot. 4.Go behind the voting screen, mark and refold your ballot to keep it secret. 5.Return your ballot to the worker so they can tear off the tab. 6.Put your ballot in the box.

9. How do I mark my ballot? A ballot lists the names of the candidates running in your riding and their party association. Voting is done by secret ballot. No one except the voter knows the choice that was made. The voter must clearly mark the ballot with a single preference for it to be valid (e.g., checkmark, X, shading in).

10. Rejected and Spoiled Ballots A rejected ballot is a ballot that cannot be counted because it was not properly marked. (For example, your ballot is rejected if you try to vote for more than one candidate) A spoiled ballot is one that was kept separate and never placed in the ballot box because it was mistakenly marked or torn and exchanged for a new ballot.

11. What is advance voting? Electors who are away, busy or unable to vote on election day have the option of advance voting. Advance voting is held prior to election day. There are 4 days of advance voting. Electors can also vote in person at an Elections Canada Returning Office or by mail up until the Tuesday before election day.

12. Questions for interviews Why is voting by secret ballot important? Why is it important to vote? Why is it important to learn about voting in grade 6? What have you learned in this unit of “Student Vote” that you didn’t know before? (it may help you to look back on your notes to answer this question)

13. Roles of Designated Election Officials Deputy Returning Officer (1) (DRO) is responsible for conducting the student election and counting the votes. They are the only election officials allowed to handle the ballots during the counting process. Poll Clerks (4) they staff the polling station. They are responsible for checking ID, crossing voters off the List of Electors, distributing ballots and collecting ballots. When the voting process is done, the Poll Clerks asist the Deputy Returning Officer by totaling the ballots counted and filling in the ote tally sheet. Candidate Representatives (Scrutineers) are individuals appointed by a candidate to act as an observer of the election process on polling day. They are present when the ballots are being counted, but they may not handle the ballots in any way.