Election scrutineers
Scrutineers help maintain election integrity by ensuring a fair and transparent election that follows the law.
Scrutineers are permitted in a voting station to observe the voting procedures and the counting of ballots.
Who can be a scrutineer?
To be appointed as a scrutineer, an individual must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Not have been convicted of an election-related offense under the Local Authorities Election Act, Election Act (Alberta), Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act or the Canada Elections Act in the last 10 years.
Where can scrutineers observe?
The Presiding Deputy Returning Officer (PDRO) sets aside a specific area within the voting station for scrutineers to watch election proceedings.
Scrutineers can observe at voting stations for:
- Election Day.
- Advance Vote.
- Care facilities where the voting station is in a common area.
- Post-secondary institutions.
- Vote bus locations.
Scrutineers are also permitted at:
- Counting centre(s).
- Locations identified for recounts (if required).
How are scrutineers appointed?
Scrutineers are appointed by a candidate using the Scrutineer Appointment form. The form is completed and signed by the candidate before the scrutineer visits the voting station.
Use a separate form for each scrutineer being appointed and list all the voting station they will attend during voting hours.
A scrutineer keeps the signed form with them and shows it to the Presiding Deputy Returning Officer (PDRO) at each voting station they visit.
Making a statement or oath at the voting station
When entering a voting station, a scrutineer must show their Scrutineer Appointment form to the PDRO.
Scrutineers will be asked by the PDRO to make a verbal statement/oath and complete the Statement of Scrutineer form.
If a scrutineer leaves and returns to the same voting station, they must show the appointment form again. They do not have to repeat the statement/oath or statement form.
General rules for scrutineers
- A candidate or official agent may be a scrutineer.
- A candidate, official agent and a scrutineer cannot be in the same voting station at the same time.
- Scrutineers are given an identification badge which must be worn while in the station and returned before leaving.
- Scrutineers can leave and return to a voting station during voting hours.
- Scrutineers can be assigned more than one voting station.
- To observe the ballot count, a scrutineer must be inside the voting station before it closes and cannot leave and return while the count is in progress.
Do What a scrutineer CAN do
Before the voting station opens:
- A scrutineer may enter the voting station 15 minutes before the station opens.
- A scrutineer may view the ballot boxes to ensure they are empty before they are sealed.
During voting hours:
- A scrutineer may observe the activities in the voting station.
- A scrutineer may ask to see the name and addresses of electors who have requested a mail-in (special) ballot. However, photos and copies of this list are not permitted.
After the voting station closes:
- A scrutineer may watch the counting of ballots at each table.
- A scrutineer may make an objection to how any ballot is counted. The objection will be recorded.
- A scrutineer may sign the Ballot Account form
Don't What a scrutineer CANNOT do
- Take a photo or make a copy of the elector registry.
- Interfere with the voting process.
- Prevent an elector from voting.
- View an elector marking their ballot.
- Assist an elector to mark a ballot. An election worker can assist an elector and is sworn to secrecy.
- Campaign inside or outside the voting station, including the parking lot.
- Wear campaign materials such as buttons, t-shirts or hats.
- Talk to an elector in the voting station.
- Touch voting materials.
- Vouch for a person at the voting station.
- Object to a person voting.
- Participate in the counting of ballots.
- Take phone calls inside the voting station.
Any exchange of information between the scrutineer and candidate, or official agent, must take place outside of the voting station.
No pictures or videos. To protect the privacy of electors’ personal information and the secrecy of their vote, photos and videos are not permitted in the voting station at any time.
Note: Information on this website is provided for reference only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. All political participants including candidates, local political parties, slates and third party advertisers are subject to further requirements. Political participants should refer to the Local Authorities Election Act and associated regulations and obtain legal advice regarding the full extent of their obligations.
