Cree-Naskapi Band Elections Regulations (SOR/88-315)

• 24. (1) A ballot box shall be made of durable material, furnished with a padlock and constructed in such a manner that any ballots that have been deposited in it cannot be withdrawn without unlocking the ballot box.

• (2) A Returning Officer shall keep count of and supervise the ballot boxes to be used at a band election up to the opening of the polling stations for the election.

25. Subject to subsection 26(1), a poll shall be open for voting continuously for at least eight hours between the hours of 6 o’clock in the morning and 10 o’clock in the evening on the day determined for the poll.

• 26. (1) In the case of a natural disaster, an electrical blackout or other extraordinary circumstance, a Returning Officer may

  • (a) postpone the closing of a poll for up to two hours;

  • (b) postpone a poll for up to four weeks; or

  • (c) interrupt a poll and resume the poll within four weeks.

• (2) Where the Returning Officer of a band postpones a poll or the closing of a poll or interrupts a poll, the Returning Officer shall take reasonable measures to inform the electors of the band of any resulting changes regarding the poll.

27. A candidate for a band election may appoint, in writing,

• (a) for each polling station provided for the election, one person to represent the candidate during the hours the polling station is open for voting; and

• (b) two persons to represent the candidate during the counting of votes.

28. Immediately prior to the opening of a polling station for a band election for voting, the Returning Officer of the band shall open each ballot box to be used at the polling station, call on any persons present to witness that the ballot boxes are empty and then padlock the ballot boxes.

• 29. (1) Where an elector appears at the appropriate polling station for the purpose of voting in a band election, the Returning Officer of the band shall verify that the elector’s name is on the electoral list for the band and that the elector has not yet voted in the election and shall initial the back of a ballot for the election of a chief or a ballot for the election of a councillor, or both, as the case may be, and hand the ballot or ballots to the elector.

• (2) A Returning Officer may, and where requested to do so, shall, explain the method of voting to an elector.

30. On receiving a ballot or ballots, an elector shall immediately proceed to a voting compartment to vote.

• 31. (1) Subject to subsection (2), only one person shall be in a voting compartment at any one time.

• (2) An elector who is unable to vote without assistance because of an inability to read or to understand the language in which the ballots are printed or because of blindness or any other physical disability may be assisted in voting by the Returning Officer or, where accompanied by a friend or relative, by the friend or relative.