Elections Canada clarifies early counting of advance ballots

Elections Canada has clarified its practice of beginning the count of advance ballots before the official closing time on election day. According to the agency, this procedure is explicitly authorized by the Canada Elections Act and has been employed without interruption in every recent federal election.

By initiating the tally earlier, Elections Canada says it aims to deliver more timely results on election night, thereby reducing public uncertainty and enhancing the overall efficiency of the electoral process.

We’ve been getting questions about the counting of advance ballots starting before polls close on election day. The law allows this, and it has been done in all recent elections. Starting early means that Canadians can get the results sooner on election night. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/jpR7FYNrcM

— Elections Canada (@ElectionsCan_E) April 26, 2025

Despite the early counting, the agency emphasized that no results are disclosed before the polls officially close. This safeguard aims to ensure that voting remains uninfluenced by preliminary outcomes and preserves the fairness of the election. The legal requirement to withhold any release of advance count totals until after polling stations close is a fundamental element of the voting framework.

Elections Canada further explained that the entire early counting process is conducted under strict observation, with official observers including witnesses designated by each registered party or candidate, who monitor every stage of ballot processing.

Results are never shared before polls close. The whole count process is observed by witnesses who are usually party or candidate representatives. Learn more here: https://t.co/iLPzt3nQfO
(2/2)

— Elections Canada (@ElectionsCan_E) April 26, 2025

The Canada Elections Act is indeed clear on that.

“At least two election officers who are assigned to an advance polling station and who are specified in accordance with the Chief Electoral Officer’s instructions shall, at the close of the polling stations on polling day, attend at the place mentioned in the notice of advance poll in subparagraph 172(a)(iii) to count the votes,” says the subsection (1) of the Act‘s section 289.

The subsection (2), under the subheading of “Application of rules for counting votes,” states, “Subsections 283(1) and (2), paragraphs 283(3)(e) and (f) and sections 284 to 288 apply with any necessary modifications to the counting of the votes of an advance poll except that

(a) for the application of paragraph 283(3)(e), the two or more election officers who are specified in accordance with the Chief Electoral Officer’s instructions shall open the ballot boxes and empty their contents onto a table; and

(b) for the application of subsection 288(4), the large envelope and the envelope that contains the copy of the statement of the vote shall be placed in the ballot box used on the last day of advance polling.”

The third subsection under the subheading of “Prohibition” continues, “Subject to subsection (4), no person shall make a count of the votes cast at an advance poll before the close of voting hours on polling day.”

The subsection (4) under the subheading “Exception” concludes, “The two or more election officers who are specified in accordance with the Chief Electoral Officer’s instructions may begin counting the votes cast at an advance poll one hour before the close of voting hours on polling day if

(a) the returning officer who is responsible for the advance polling station has obtained the Chief Electoral Officer’s prior approval for the counting to begin;

(b) the counting is done in accordance with the Chief Electoral Officer’s instructions;

(c) the counting is done in a manner that ensures the integrity of the vote; and

(d) the counting is done in the presence of any candidates or their representatives who are present or, if no candidates or representatives are present, at least two electors.”

With Canadians increasingly focused on electoral integrity, Elections Canada’s clarification aims to reassure voters that advance ballots are handled in full compliance with legislative requirements and under rigorous oversight.

Featured image shows a poll worker serving an elector and is allowed by Elections Canada to be used for publication — Photo Credit: Elections Canada