Returning Officer's -
Report Regarding HRM’s E-voting Advanced Poll

Print report in pdf format

The integrity of the electoral system and the trust that residents place in the voting process are of primary importance to the democratic process and to the confidence electors place in their elected representatives.

As part of the implementation of HRM’s e-voting pilot for the 2008 Municipal and School Board elections HRM engaged HRM Elections officials, HRM Legal Services and HRM Business Systems and Control (who provide internal auditing services) to undertake oversight and review of various of the procedures related to the e-voting pilot from initiation through to completion. As part of the oversight process HRM also engaged a third party firm - Ernst & Young- to undertake a Specific Procedures Engagement related to specific areas of the e-voting process before, during and following the e-voting advanced poll. The oversight of HRM election officials and HRM Business Systems and Controls, as well as the additional specific procedures review undertaken for HRM by Ernst & Young, have provided a detailed and comprehensive review of HRM’s e-voting pilot for the HRM Returning Officer, residents and elected officials.

As HRM’s Municipal Returning Officer I am satisfied that e-voting was conducted in accordance with Bylaw A400, which outlined the procedures required to conduct the e-voting advanced poll from 8:00am Saturday October 4, 2008 through to 8:00pm Saturday October 6, 2008; that the official count provided for ballots cast during the e-voting advanced polling period is accurate and complete, and that the e-voting process was conducted in a way that protected the integrity of the Municipal and School Board elections as outlined in the Municipal Elections Act.

The Specific Procedures Reports of the HRM Business Systems and Controls and Ernst & Young are provided in PDF format to follow.

Dated this 24th day of October, 2008.
(Original signed)
Linda Grant
Municipal Returning Officer