The staggered voting hours helps with keeping the vote secret. However, Atlantic Canada's polls will close 2 hours before much of Canada. B.C.'s polls close 30 minutes after that. For the most part, 30 minutes isn't enough time to count the ballots at most polling stations. The only real vote results will be Atlantic Canada's that everyone will see before polls close elsewhere. That might influence some voters and cause a rush at the polls out West.
The result in Atlantic Canada does have the potential to influence voters. That is unfortunate. The influence could pit regions against each other more than they are.
My own preference is to keep the results secret until everyone has voted. Elections Canada is most likely looking into ways to keep things secret. I'd suggest holding the results in the East until everyone in the West has voted. It would also provide for more convenient voting hours for those out West.
Courts have held that it's illegal to hold the results, if I recall correctly. But yeah, slightly more staggered voting hours might help. It's tricky having six time zones in one country, I don't think anyone else has to deal with that (maybe Russia?)
The hours of voting are staggered and normalized to Eastern Time here (12 hours of voting):
Newfoundland: 8:30 Local 7:00 ET
Atlantic Time: 8:30 Local 7:30 ET
Eastern Time: 9:30 Local 9:30 ET
Central Time: 8:30 Local 9:30 ET
Mountain Time: 7:30 Local 9:30 ET
Pacific Time: 7:00 Local 10:00 ET
During Daylight Savings, Saskatchewan gets split up. Those parts in Central Time would be (7:30 Local, 9:30 ET) and Mountain Time would be (7:00 Local, 10:00 ET). (Hope I got the Daylight Savings to Eastern Time correct.)
Ignoring Atlantic Canada for the moment, 30 minutes is barely enough time to count most polling stations, let alone the time to get the results out to the media so that someone could use them.
If the courts have held that it's illegal to hold the results, Elections Canada would probably move Atlantic Canadians voting hours later in the day, say to line up with 9:30 ET).
The broadcasters may take them to get a sense of what voters are thinking, but claim they don't rely on them for election night predictions. This seems true since many results can come in before the broadcasters call it.
I'm working at a polling station election night (in Atlantic Canada). I should be home long before the bulk of Canada's polls close. I remember one time getting home and having the election declared based on the results in Atlantic Canada. We're not back to those days.
Last election, CTV had a system online that automatically updated. It was a nice system and expect them to have it up again. It's going to be a late night for me!
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momijizukamori
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 06:35 am (UTC)The result in Atlantic Canada does have the potential to influence voters. That is unfortunate. The influence could pit regions against each other more than they are.
My own preference is to keep the results secret until everyone has voted. Elections Canada is most likely looking into ways to keep things secret. I'd suggest holding the results in the East until everyone in the West has voted. It would also provide for more convenient voting hours for those out West.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 06:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 07:02 am (UTC)Ignoring Atlantic Canada for the moment, 30 minutes is barely enough time to count most polling stations, let alone the time to get the results out to the media so that someone could use them.
If the courts have held that it's illegal to hold the results, Elections Canada would probably move Atlantic Canadians voting hours later in the day, say to line up with 9:30 ET).
no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 07:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 07:29 am (UTC)I'm working at a polling station election night (in Atlantic Canada). I should be home long before the bulk of Canada's polls close. I remember one time getting home and having the election declared based on the results in Atlantic Canada. We're not back to those days.
Last election, CTV had a system online that automatically updated. It was a nice system and expect them to have it up again. It's going to be a late night for me!
no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 07:33 am (UTC)Are you a journalist?
no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 08:11 am (UTC)Once I get a job again, I'll be a software developer again.