Mr. Speaker, in addition to the specific and the general and technical recommendations, the Chief Electoral Officer provided the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures with a number of other recommendations that were not included in the report.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures has reviewed these recommendations and concurs with the rationalization presented by the Chief Electoral Officer. These recommendations are as follows.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends the provision for the appointment of a Deputy Chief Electoral Officer being included in the Elections Act.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Elections Act be amended to provide that the appointment of a returning officer expires 365 days following polling day.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer have the option of reappointing a returning officer.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the preliminary list of electors no longer be posted in a public place.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that mail-in ballots may be available upon issue of the writ; and further, that a mail-in ballot may be received up to one week following polling day, provided the envelope was postmarked on or before polling day.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that candidate returns no longer be tabled in the Legislative Assembly and instead be available for public inspection at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that an elector may decline to vote and have that refusal recorded on the ballot and in the poll book opposite their name.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that an elector must either swear or affirm their eligibility to vote as opposed to simply producing identification.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that an elector may vote in the polling division in which they are resident on polling day, notwithstanding that their name appears on another list of electors. Further, that the elector will be required to complete and take an oath of eligibility and provide their former address.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that an elector must be ordinarily resident in the Northwest Territories at least six months prior to polling day.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that section 51(3)(a) of the Elections Act be repealed, along with all references to exceptions to ineligibility.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that only the poll clerk shall witness the deputy returning officer when providing assistance to an elector in marking their ballot.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that special voting opportunity is changed to "special ballot" and that a new regulation covering the use of "special ballots" is developed.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that an eligible elector, who is incarcerated, shall vote by a special ballot. Polls will no longer be conducted at correctional facilities.
- • The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that in the case of a by-election, an eligible elector must be resident in the electoral district from enumeration day, or a day determined by the Chief Electoral Officer, until polling day.
Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that the report of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures be received by the Assembly and moved into the committee of the whole for consideration.