Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2011 Election and commends it to the House.

Introduction

The report of the Chief Electoral Officer of the Northwest Territories on the administration of the 2011 election was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on June 14, 2012. The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is tasked with the responsibility to review the report and make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly.

The standing committee wrote all candidates, official agents and returning officers who participated in the 2011 election, inviting them to appear before the committee at a public hearing on the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) report and to provide written submissions to the committee. The committee also invited all Members of the Legislative Assembly to a meeting to discuss the CEO’s report on December 5, 2012. The committee’s public hearing with the CEO took place on January 23, 2013. At the meeting three witnesses, in addition to the CEO, made presentations to the committee. One individual also provided a written response to the committee’s letter. The committee would like to thank the CEO and all those who provided their comments on the report.Concerns and Issues Discussed during the Standing Committee’s Review Process A number of concerns and issues were discussed during committee’s review process. The committee wishes to highlight the following matters.

Voters List

The committee heard a number of concerns about substantial inaccuracies in the voters lists. For example, the list not only emits a number of eligible voters, but also includes may people who no longer live at the addresses where they are registered and, most unfortunately, a number of people who are deceased. These inaccuracies impact the electoral process, and also create the appearance that voter turnout is lower than it actually is because the list includes the names of so many people who are not actually eligible voters in the electoral districts where they are registered.

During the public hearing, the CEO recognized the serious problems with the voters lists and advised committee of multiple measures underway to revise it. The committee was pleased to hear that, as a result of these measures, several thousand changes have already been made. The committee accepts the CEO’s view that a general enumeration is not the most effective way to bring the list up to date, although targeted enumerations may be required for some areas. As candidates are very familiar with the eligible voters in their electoral districts, the committee suggests that the CEO consider ways to take advantage of this expertise, perhaps shortly following each election, if this can be done without creating any perception of conflict of interest or bias.

Committee members also noted that voters lists were not made available to candidates in a consistent format. In some cases the lists were provided in hard copy, and in other cases they were provided electronically. The committee recommends that the office of the CEO should make voters lists available to candidates sooner and in a standard electronic format, such as an Excel spreadsheet, which can be manipulated.

Voter Identification Requirements

The committee heard concerns that the new voter identification requirements, which mirror the requirements for federal elections, did in some cases discourage qualified voters from voting. The requirements do seem somewhat excessive, particularly in our smaller communities where we all know each other. During the public hearing, the CEO conceded that federal requirements may be stricter than what is needed in the Northwest Territories to protect the electoral process, and offered to research the issue further and return with recommendations for improvements at the Assembly’s direction. The committee agrees with the CEO’s proposed approach.

Citizen Engagement

The committee is not convinced that citizen engagement is as low as the voter turnout numbers reported in some electoral districts suggest. As stated earlier, inaccuracies in the voters list created

the appearance of a much larger number of eligible voters than actually existed. Difficulties with voter registration and identification, and limitations on voting opportunities for some voters may also have discouraged some eligible voters from voting. Some of the recommendations for amendments to the act outlined later in this report will help to address these issues. However, the committee would be supportive of efforts to promote civic engagement in youth and a lifelong habit of voting through enhanced curriculum content.

Training

The committee heard of some instances where elections officers seemed uncertain of how to carry out their responsibilities. The committee was therefore pleased to hear of the CEO’s planned initiatives to enhance training of election officers prior to the next election.

Social Media

The use of social media, such as Facebook, raised some concerns during the recent campaign because it is highly influential, yet does not provide a way to respond to or correct misinformation. Social media is difficult if not impossible to regulate, not least because comments of concern are often posted by candidates’ supporters and are beyond candidates’ control. The committee recommends the CEO monitor any developments on the use of social media in election campaigns in other jurisdictions, and consider developing guidelines to assist candidates and their teams.

At this point I would like to turn it over to my colleague Mr. Abernethy, through you.