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Reference Document – Overview of Elections Canada and the Federal Electoral System Briefing Book (October 2021)
Electoral Cycle
Pre-election period
- Voter Information Campaign
- Expenses limits of third parties and political parties
Election period
Election campaign (min. 37 days / max. 51 days)
- Fully functioning offices of the returning officer
- Preliminary lists of electors
- Elector information update
- Candidate nominations
- Special ballots
- Expenses limits of third parties, political parties and candidates
Election
- Advance poll operations
- Election day registration
- Election day operations
Results
- Validation of results and official results
- Judicial recount
Post-election period
- Submission, audit and publication of expense returns of political parties and third parties and of campaign returns of candidates
- Reimbursements to political parties and candidates
- Legal challenges by individuals or groups (Commissioner, Director of Public Prosecutions or courts)
- CEO reports: election results, retrospective and recommendations
- Conclusions of independent audit
Between elections
- Annual reports of political entities
- Knowledge development and transfer
- Policy development
- Pilot projects
- Budget allocation
- Recruitment and training of election workers
- Electoral preparation
