Canada Elections Act

Marginal note:Counting the votes

• 283 (1) Immediately after the close of a polling station, the deputy returning officer shall count the votes in the presence of the poll clerk, any person appointed under section 32.1 whose duties include being present at the count and any candidates or their representatives who are present or, if no candidates or representatives are present, at least two electors.

• Marginal note:Tally sheets

  (2) The deputy returning officer shall supply the poll clerk and all the persons referred to in subsection (1) who are present and who so request with a tally sheet to keep their own score of the voting.

• Marginal note:Steps to follow

  (3) The deputy returning officer shall, in the following order,

  • (a) count the number of electors who voted at the polling station, count the number of those to whom a certificate was given under subsection 161(4), make an entry at the end of the list of electors that states “The number of electors who voted at this election in this polling station is (stating the number). Of these, the number of electors to whom a certificate was given under subsection 161(4) is (stating the number).”, sign the list and place the list in the envelope supplied for that purpose;

  • (b) count the spoiled ballots, place them in the envelope supplied for the purpose, indicate on the envelope the number of spoiled ballots, and seal it;

  • (c) count the unused ballots that are not detached from the books of ballots, place them with the stubs of the used ballots in the envelope supplied for the purpose, indicate on the envelope the number of unused ballots, and seal it;

  • (d) total the number of electors indicated under paragraph (a) who voted at the polling station and the numbers arrived at in paragraphs (b) and (c) in order to ascertain that all ballots that were provided by the returning officer are accounted for;

  • (e) open the ballot box and empty its contents onto a table; and

  • (f) examine each ballot, show the ballot to each person who is present, and ask the poll clerk to make a note on the tally sheet beside the name of the candidate for whom the vote was cast for the purpose of arriving at the total number of votes cast for each candidate.