Canada’s election day is Monday. Here are some commonly asked questions and answers including, when will your vote be counted and what happens if you mailed your vote in.聽
Once your vote is cast, how is it counted?
Canada still uses paper ballots and all ballots are counted by two election workers in front of witnesses, usually the candidates or their representatives, according to information provided by Elections Canada.
These votes are then recorded on a paper document called the 鈥淪tatement of the Vote鈥 which is then entered into Elections Canada鈥檚 results aggregation and reporting system. This allows the votes to be posted online and provided to media outlets in real time.
A returning officer validates the votes in each riding a few nights after election night and compares them to the reporting system and the Statement of the Vote. Once verified in front of the candidates or representatives, a certificate with the number of votes is given to the Chief Electoral Officer, St茅phane Perrault.
I voted in advance. When will my vote be counted?
Votes cast during the advanced polling days, between April 18 and 21, are counted at your local Elections Canada office on election day. Due to the record high turnout of advanced voting, there has been an adjustment for this election made by Perrault to allow advanced ballots to counted beginning two hours before polls close. These votes will be cast behind closed doors and will not be shared until after all polls have closed.
What if I mailed in my vote?
Special ballots, or mail-in ballots, are counted only after a verification process including matching unique identifiers to the voter鈥檚 application, their name, electoral district and signature of declaration on the envelopment. If any steps in the verification process fails, the vote is set aside.
Special ballots are 鈥渃ounted in waves,鈥 or entered into the aggregation and reporting system in batches on election night and in the days following if necessary.
Special ballots returned to a local Elections Canada office will be counted there on election night after polls closed, while all those mailed to Ottawa鈥檚 main Elections Canada office will be counted there.
More information on how votes are cast and other questions about voting can be found on .
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