Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9)

Marginal note:List in Canada Gazette

25. Between the 1st and 20th days of January in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a list in the Canada Gazette of the name, address and occupation of the returning officer for each electoral district in Canada.

Marginal note:Assistant returning officer

• 26. (1) A returning officer shall, without delay after being appointed, appoint in writing an assistant returning officer, who shall hold office at pleasure and send the appointment in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer.

• Marginal note:Restriction on appointment

  (2) A returning officer shall not appoint his or her spouse, common-law partner, child, mother, father, brother, sister, the child of his or her spouse or common-law partner, or a person who lives with him or her as an assistant returning officer.

Marginal note:Authorization

• 27. (1) The returning officer for an electoral district may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, authorize any person acting under his or her direction to perform any of the functions of a returning officer under this Act, except those described in subsection 24(3), sections 57, 62, 63 and 67, subsections 71(1) and 72(1), sections 74, 77, 103, 104, 130, 293 to 298 and 300, subsection 301(6) and sections 313 to 316.

• Marginal note:Authorization in writing

  (2) An authorization under subsection (1) shall be signed and dated by the returning officer.

Marginal note:Notification if returning officer incapacitated

• 28. (1) It is the duty of a returning officer or an assistant returning officer to notify the Chief Electoral Officer without delay if the returning officer at any time becomes unable to act.

• (2) [Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 176]

• Marginal note:Assistant returning officer to act

  (3) Subject to subsection 24(1.5), if a returning officer is absent or unable to act or if a returning officer’s office is vacant, the assistant returning officer shall act in place of the returning officer.

• Marginal note:Designated person to act

  (3.1) If a returning officer and an assistant returning officer are both absent or unable to act or if both their offices are vacant during an election period, the Chief Electoral Officer shall designate a person to act in place of the returning officer, and that person may, during and after that period, perform the duties of a returning officer in relation to that election.

• Marginal note:Appointment within limited period

  (4) When the office of a returning officer becomes vacant, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint a new returning officer without delay.

• Marginal note:Appointment of assistant returning officer

  (5) Every assistant returning officer who is required to act as a returning officer under subsection (3) shall appoint an assistant returning officer without delay.