Friday, March 2, 2012

How do I file a complaint about an alleged violation of the Canada Elections Act?

How do I file a complaint about an alleged violation of the Canada Elections Act?


If you have information about an offence that you believe was committed under the Canada Elections Act, please send it to the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections:



Commissioner of Canada Elections

c/o Elections Canada

257 Slater Street

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0M6

Fax: 1-800-663-4908

E-mail: commissionersoffice@elections.ca



To respond to complaints about alleged offences, the Commissioner requires the following minimum information:



1.Your name, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number (if applicable).

If you are submitting the complaint on behalf of another person or organization, please also include the name of that person or organization (the complainant) and their contact information (mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number, if applicable).



2.A factual description of the events, circumstances or actions that you believe gave rise to the alleged offence.

Please include any specific dates, places or documents that you believe are relevant. This information will enable the Commissioner to assess your complaint; without it, assessment of your complaint may be delayed.



3.If you know it, the section of the Canada Elections Act related to your complaint, or the nature of the alleged offence.

The Commissioner must receive a complaint about an alleged offence within 10 years of the offence being committed. Keep in mind that the passage of time may significantly affect the Commissioner's ability to deal with a complaint.



If you have a complaint about how an election was conducted but you do not believe it is an offence, please send it to the Chief Electoral Officer (see below).








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How do I file a complaint or comment about the conduct of a federal election?

To provide feedback on an election worker or on how a federal election was run, or to file a formal complaint, please contact the Chief Electoral Officer using this e-mail form or write to:



Chief Electoral Officer of Canada

Elections Canada

257 Slater Street

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0M6



The Chief Electoral Officer handles complaints that are not believed to be violations of the Canada Elections Act. To report an alleged violation of the Canada Elections Act, please contact the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections (details above).