🗳️ Chapter 6: Federal Elections
6.1.3 Secret Ballot
2 paragraphs · 6 questions
Canadian law protects the secrecy of your vote. Nobody may stand and watch you mark your ballot, and nobody should look at the mark you have made. You are free to tell other people your choice if you wish. But nobody can demand that you tell them. That includes your own family, your boss at work and your union representative. Speaking about it, or staying silent, is entirely your decision.
Key Facts
- Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot
- No one may watch you vote or inspect your ballot
- Family, employer or union cannot insist you reveal your vote
- Telling others is your free choice
The moment polling stations close, election officers begin counting the ballots. Nothing waits until the next day. Every ballot in the box is counted. The outcome is then made public straight away. Radio stations and television channels carry the results, and newspapers print them. Voters therefore learn very quickly who won in each district and how each party did across the country.
Key Facts
- Counting begins immediately after polls close
- Election officers do the counting
- Results are announced on radio, television and in newspapers
Test yourself on this topic
6 practice questions from “Secret Ballot”, each with the answer explained.
- What does the right to a secret ballot guarantee?
- Who has the right to demand that you say how you voted?
- May you tell other people how you voted?
- Who counts the ballots as soon as the polling stations close?
- How are election results made known to the public straight after the count?
- Besides television, where can you follow the election results?
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