| Élections Manitoba | |
 The Elections Manitoba Building in Winnipeg | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1980 |
| Jurisdiction | elections and plebiscites in Manitoba |
| Headquarters | 120 - 200 Vaughan StreetWinnipeg, MB R3C 1T5 |
| Employees | 21 |
| Agency executive |
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| Key documents |
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| Website | Official website |
Elections Manitoba (French:Élections Manitoba) is thenon-partisan agency of theGovernment of Manitoba responsible for the conduct and regulation ofprovincial elections inManitoba.[1][2][3]
Its responsibilities are to operate free of political influence; conduct Manitoba's provincial elections,by-elections, andreferendums; ensure that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to vote; promote public awareness of voting and the electoral process; help political participants to comply with election rules; facilitateThe Elections Act andThe Election Financing Act; and recommend improvements to existing legislation.[4]
It is the office of theChief Electoral Officer of Manitoba (CEO), who heads Elections Manitoba with assistance from the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer. The CEO administers provincial elections in order to ensure their fairness and freedom from political influence. The Officer reports to theLegislative Assembly of Manitoba and must be non-partisan, i.e., they cannot be a member of apolitical party or vote in an election.[4][5] The current CEO as of May 2021[update] is Shipra Verma, who was appointed in 2013.[5]
TheCommissioner of Elections is appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer in consultation with all political parties, and is solely responsible for prosecuting and investigating violations of election law.[4] The current Commissioner is Bill Bowles.[6]
Elections Manitoba is the office of theChief Electoral Officer of Manitoba (CEO), who heads Elections Manitoba with assistance from the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer. The CEO administers provincial elections in order to ensure their fairness and freedom from political influence. The CEO is appointed by theLieutenant Governor-in-council, and reports to theLegislative Assembly of Manitoba. The Officer must be non-partisan, i.e., they cannot be a member of apolitical party or vote in an election.[4][5]
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer was established in 1980 to serve as an independent office of the Legislative Assembly and theClerk ofExecutive Council. Obstructing the CEO became an election offence as of 1998.
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Richard Willis | 1980–1989 |
| Richard Balasko (acting) | 1989–1990 |
| Richard Balasko | 1990–2010 |
| Shipra Verma | 2013– |
Elections Manitoba is headed by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), who is assisted by the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer. The two are supported by a core staff of 21 people.[7]
Returning officers (ROs), who are hired by the CEO, manage the election at theelectoral division level and are the main point-of-contact for information and assistance during an election.[4][7] Along with assistant returning officers, ROs provide voter services—including coordination of registration, answering questions about the voting process, setting up voting places—and candidate support—including preparation and distribution of thevoters list, and distributing and receiving forms, among other things.[7]
Returning officers recruitelection officials for each electoral division. Approximately 8,000 election officials are employed to administer a general election. This includes RO staff and election officials who update the voters list and run the election at voting places across the province.[7]
TheCommissioner of Elections is an independent officer who is responsible for ensuring compliance with and enforcement ofThe Elections Act andThe Election Financing Act, and is thus solely responsible for prosecuting and investigating violations of election law.[4][6] (Non-compliance and enforcement matters relating to municipal or federal elections do not fall within the Commissioner's jurisdiction.)[4]
The Commissioner is appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer in consultation with the leaders of all the political parties represented in theAssembly. Although appointed by the CEO, the Commissioner's authority is separate from and independent of the CEO.[4][6] The current Commissioner is Bill Bowles, whose appointment became effective on 14 March 2011. The first Commissioner, Michael T. Green, was appointed in December 2006.[6]
The position of Commissioner was created on 13 December 2006 when amendments toThe Elections Act andThe Election Financing Act came into effect, transferring investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities from the Chief Electoral Officer.[6]
Politics ofManitoba | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Governor |  | |
| Premier | ||
| Opposition leader | ||
| Speaker of the Assembly | ||
| Legislature | ||
| Political parties | ||
| Elections | ||
| Other Canadian politics | ||