Elections Canada says it’s ready for a pandemic election

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Elections Canada insists it is ready to handle the upcoming September federal election.

Local Elections Canada offices will be opening as soon as Tuesday, where voters will be able to place votes, explains Andrea Marantz.

Given the ongoing pandemic, I asked Elections Canada what its capacity is in terms of mail-in voting. It tells me it expects 2-3 million people to choose the mail-in option, but can handle double that if required. #cdnpoli #Elxn44

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) August 15, 2021

“It may not be available at every single office but some offices will, and the candidates will be able to start submitting their nomination papers that day as well,” she says.

Announced Sunday morning, Canadians are headed to the polls after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a federal election for next month.

The prime minister arrived at Rideau Hall on Sunday morning to visit with Governor General Mary Simon, kickstarting a 36 day campaign that will culminate with a vote on September 20.

Related Articles:

• What did they say? Echoes from Sunday’s campaign kickoffs

• Canadians head to the polls in pandemic federal election set for September

• Trudeau called election to win majority, expert says

 

Marantz says she expects up to three million people to use the mail-in ballot option, but ultimately the electoral service has the capacity to process twice that many votes if needed.

“Right now we are estimating that approximately two to three million people may vote by mail this election, which is much, much higher than it has been in the past,” she says.

She reminds voters who choose to use the mail-in option to allow for plenty of time for processing.

“You need to allow time to receive your ballot, and to send it in, and there is a specific deadline that you can find on the website if you apply for mail-in ballot. The deadline will be communicated to you very clearly on that ballot,” she says.