Evidence of meeting #19 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was date.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Maybe we could issue a motion to congratulate videoconference organizers because the answers I get make me feel like I am playing a word puzzle. It reminds me of reports submitted under the Access to Information Act: The only words that could be read were “of” and “the”. The others were blacked out and you had to try to understand without them.
You said seventy, Madam?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Order. If you wouldn't mind, would you repeat that last number?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Mr. Guimond, you have the floor. If you want to ask that question, please do.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Okay. I made a pass on the hockey stick of Mr. Proulx. I will keep this question.
Here, when we speak of voter turnout, it’s clear. I would like to understand the subtleties of the term registered voters, to understand the difference.
Seventy-three percent of voters registered on the electoral list voted in 2005. Is that correct?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
That’s in relation to registered voters. You used the jargon “registered voters.” Of course, children and persons under 18 years are excluded.
Other than people under 18 years, who might not be a registered voter? That would be the case of someone who does not appear on the electoral list, but you have the permanent list. Do all people over 18 years appear on the electoral list in British Columbia?
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Elections BC
No, that is not correct. In British Columbia you have to register to have your name on the permanent list. There is no automatic registration unless...[Technical difficulty --Editor]...national register of electors, and we share information. So citizens who choose not to register to vote or who are otherwise unqualified are not on the list.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Then it was 73%. Do you remember the numbers relating to the past three elections? If not, you could send that information to our clerk.
What were voter turnout percentages for the three elections preceding that of 2005?
You understand the purpose of my question. I simply would like to know if holding elections at a fixed date increased voter turnout in British Columbia, as well as your compatriots’ interest in democratic elections.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Elections BC
The voter turnout had been steadily declining in British Columbia. In the 2005 election, turnout increased by about 3%. We don't know if that was because of a fixed-date election or because of efforts by Elections British Columbia and the media to promote participation in democracy.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
But what was it for the two previous elections?
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Elections BC
In 2001, turnout was about 70%. I'm afraid I don't recall what the turnout rate was in 1996. It was slightly higher than the 70% in 2001.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Are you able to provide the clerk with the score for 1996 and the elections before 1996?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Thank you, Ms. Johnson, for providing that information. We'll pass it around once we receive it.
Mr. Dewar.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
People have had concerns about campaigns that go on too long because of fixed election dates. Certainly we can appreciate that the average person wouldn't want to see people campaigning months in advance of any fixed election date.
You gave us an indication that there are some boundaries in British Columbia around advertising. I'm curious about your experience between 2005 and 2001. I would like to hear any observations you may have around literature, signs being erected, that kind of thing. I would also appreciate your comments—not scientific, but anecdotal—about concerns that people have or observations you have regarding campaigns going on too long.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Elections BC
My impression between 2001 and 2005 was that there was no increase in campaign activity. I mentioned earlier that many candidates in British Columbia didn't even file their nomination documents until the last day, so they lost an opportunity for a couple of weeks of campaigning that they would otherwise have had.
My impression is that the campaign in 2001 and 2005 was of a similar duration. Although the public and media had expressed some concern that there might be rampant and uncontrolled campaigning and campaign spending, we saw no evidence of this in British Columbia.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
You had a citizens assembly on electoral reform, and we know the story there. I'm curious how that affected you. Did you plan or even speculate about how your work would have changed if you had moved to the model proposed by the citizens assembly? Did you involve yourself in that, or were you waiting to hear from the citizens? If you had looked at that, forecast it, how might the proposed transferrable vote model have affected elections and the work you do?
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Elections BC
We looked at it. We didn't go into a lot of depth. It wouldn't have been appropriate to have invested a lot of energy in something speculative. Generally speaking, though, we could see where the voting and counting part of our business might have changed. There might have been some change in the infrastructure we use in administering an event at the time the election is on, but overall it would not have had a dramatic impact on the work of Elections B.C. Voter registration would not necessarily have changed. Campaign finance would have changed somewhat, but probably not significantly. [Technical difficulty--Editor]...into voting places staffed by competent people would not have changed either.