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

Marginal note:Counting the votes

• 283 (1) Immediately after the close of a polling station, an election officer who is assigned to the polling station shall count the votes in the presence of

  • (a) another election officer who is assigned to the polling station; and

  • (b) 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) One of those election officers shall supply all the persons referred to in paragraph (1)(b) who are present and who request one with a tally sheet to keep their own score of the voting.

• Marginal note:Steps to follow

  (3) The election officer who counts the votes shall, in the following order,

  • (a) count the number of electors who voted, 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 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 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 election officer referred to in paragraph (1)(a) 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.