Draft Municipal Election Regulations Amendment Consultation

The Province is inviting the public and municipal governments to share their opinion on changes to the Municipal Election Regulations. This is the draft document with the suggested amendments. 

Proposed amendments include:

• Enhanced Privacy Protections: Mail-in and hospital ballots would be counted alongside other ballots on election day, helping safeguard voter anonymity.
• Greater Accessibility: Voters will no longer be required to use a pencil to mark their ballot, and individuals assisting voters would not need to be local electors—removing barriers for seniors and people with disabilities. Additional amendments would allow a voter who initially refuses to sign a declaration to return later and vote if they change their mind.
• Modernized Voting Process: Candidates would be able to request updated voter lists electronically during polling, and assigning unique voter ID numbers will become optional, reducing administrative burden.
• Improved Fairness and Safety: Only election officials will be permitted to question a voter’s eligibility, protecting electors from potential confrontation or intimidation.
• Simplifying Ballot Counting: By reducing the number of candidate agents allowed during counting and ensuring ballots from mobile polls (e.g. hospitals, care homes) are counted like advance poll ballots