When Should I Complain?
Secrecy of the vote and influence in a polling site
Secrecy of the vote
The Act prohibits any person from :
- on entering the polling station and before receiving a ballot, openly declaring for whom he or she intends to vote;
- while in the polling station, showing his or her ballot, when marked, so as to allow the name of the candidate for whom he or she has voted to be seen;
- before leaving the polling station, openly declaring for whom he or she has voted;
- taking a photograph, making a video recording or making a copy of a marked ballot or showing or distributing to any persons such a photo, video recording or copy (e.g., selfie).
Influence in a polling site
The Act prohibits any person from :
- in any place where voting is taking place, influencing or attempting to influence electors to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate or registered party, at the election;
- posting or displaying in a polling place any campaign literature supporting or opposing a political party or the election of a candidate;
- while in a polling station, wearing any emblem, flag, banner or other thing that indicates that the person supports or opposes any candidate or political party.