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The federal government says proposed changes to Canada’s Elections Act will encourage more people to vote.
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says measures include adding two more advanced voting days.
“The bill also proposes to offer dedicated on-site voting for voters living in long-term care homes and enhancements as well to the increasingly popular and accessible vote-by-mail process,” said LeBlanc.
Other changes in the proposed Bill C-65 include:
- making the “Vote on Campus” program permanent;
- giving voters who require assistance, such as persons with disabilities, the choice of who may assist them when voting
Other steps are being taken to allow voting in an elector’s riding at any polling station. They’re also assessing measures needed to move to an expanded election day to include three days of voting instead of just one.
NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says adding new languages to the ballot is also being considered.
“Putting Indigenous languages on the ballot. Indigenous people can read that ballot and interact with the electoral system in their own language,” said Blaikie.
The Government of Canada is also taking further steps to ensure Canadians can confidently engage in the electoral process knowing their personal information is protected. Changes will help counter disinformation, the misuse of technologies, and foreign interference.
It will also ensure that the fixed date election in 2025 does not conflict with Diwali by moving it to the following Monday.
