Why don’t we have independent observers in Canadian election polls?

In a world of increasingly polarized politics, independent voices could provide a compelling antidote to the partisan diatribes we hear from all sides when doubts arise.

The Canada Elections Act has never been amended to encourage any observers who are not candidate representatives to be part of the process, writes Jane Cooper.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY JANE COOPER

September 25, 2024

The Canada Elections Act only permits representatives working on behalf of candidates—commonly referred to by the archaic term “scrutineer”—to observe in Canadian election polls with a very few exceptions. I think voters would be better served if, besides these parti...

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