No Cameras in Polling Stations - Elections Alberta
A popular right wing influencer got in a little hot water today when Elections Alberta demanded he remove a social media post that showed a photo of a marked ballot, presumably his own.
Elections Alberta confirmed that it is prohibited in the Election Act, citing this section of the Act.
Sections 106: Secrecy of vote
106(1) While a voter is in a voting booth for the purpose of marking the voter’s ballot, no other person may, except as permitted in section 96, enter the voting booth or be in a position from which the person can see for whom the voter marks the voter’s ballot.
(2) No person may directly or indirectly induce or attempt to induce a voter to show the voter’s ballot after the voter has marked it so as to allow the name of the candidate for whom the voter has voted to be known.
(3) Except as provided in section 96, a voter shall not show the voter’s ballot, after the voter has marked it, to any person so as to allow the name of the candidate for whom the voter voted to be known.
(4) A voter shall
(a) vote without unnecessary delay, and
(b) leave the voting place as soon as the voter’s ballot has been placed in the ballot box.
(Section 96 deals with voters who need assistance.)
Image below redacted by Owl News.
You can tell the world how you voted but you are not allowed to take a photo of it, whether it is is yours or not.
This is to preserve the secrecy of the vote - it is meant to prevent proof-of-vote that could enable coercion or vote-buying.
Over 800,000 Votes cast So Far
Over 450,000 Special Ballots; have been processed another 360,000 votes were cast on the first two days of Advance Polls.
Forever Canadian Rally in Edmonton Not in Conflict With Elections Act
Elections Alberta says it's aware of the Forever Canadian rally at the Edmonton EXPO Centre on Friday, Oct. 16, which is being held in the arena while advance voting for Electoral District 34 continues in Hall H.
The agency says it has worked with the EXPO Centre to keep referendum advertising away from voters, including managing the parking area, the entrance voters use, and physical barriers inside the building.
Under Section 135(2) of the Election Act, advertising restrictions apply only to the designated voting place — the parking area immediately outside it, the closest entryway, and the interior voting area — not the entire building.
Forever Canadian contacted Elections Alberta for guidance on complying with the legislation.
Voters will use Entrances 1 and 2 at the east end of the EXPO Centre, and parking is free for those voting.
Courtesy of Forever Canadian
