Once again this year, Elections Canada is asking individuals to help keep the National Register of Electors up to date. On page 1 of the 2006 income tax and benefit return, Canadian citizens are asked to respond to the following statement:
“As a Canadian citizen, I authorize the Canada Revenue Agency to provide my name, address, and date of birth to Elections Canada for the National Register of Electors”.
What is the National Register of Electors?
The National Register of Electors is an automated data-base maintained by Elections Canada that contains the name, address, and date of birth of eligible electors (Canadian citizens who are 18 years of age or older). The National Register of Electors is used to produce electoral lists without having to conduct door-to-door enumerations, saving approximately $30 million for each federal general election or referendum.
Why does the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) ask people to consent to the transfer of information to Elections Canada?
About 20% of elector information changes every year. Elections Canada will use the information provided to make sure that the National Register is kept up to date. Authorization is needed from electors every year, whether their information has changed or not.
What happens when you indicate “yes”?
- You authorize the CRA to give only your name, address, and date of birth to Elections Canada, to ensure that your information on the National Register of Electors is up to date.
- If you are an eligible elector who is not already on the National Register of Electors, Elections Canada will accept this as your request to have your information added to it.
Notes
The CRA updates the information provided to Elections Canada several times throughout the year. Your authorization remains in effect for a period of 12 months. Therefore, if you move during this period, and you advise the CRA of your new address, the CRA will advise Elections Canada the next time information is provided.
If, during the year, you change your mind about the CRA sending your information to Elections Canada, please contact the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 to have your consent removed. However, your information will remain on the National Register of Electors. To remove your information from the Register, see “Confidentiality”.
What happens when you indicate “no” (or do not make a choice)?
- The CRA will not give any of your information to Elections Canada.
- You will not lose your right to vote.
- Elections Canada will not remove your information from the National Register of Electors if it is already there.
- If there is an election or referendum, your information may not be up to date on electoral lists produced from the National Register of Electors. In that case, you will have to take the necessary steps to correct your information.
What about confidentiality?
Information on the National Register of Electors will be used only for electoral purposes as permitted under the Canada Elections Act. You can write to Elections Canada requesting not to be included on the National Register of Electors, or that your information not be shared with provinces, territories, municipalities, and school boards that use the National Register of Electors to produce their electoral lists.
Contacting Elections Canada
For more information, contact Elections Canada at 613-993-2975 or 1-800-463-6868 toll free in Canada and the United States.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, and you use a teletypewriter, call 1-800-361-8935 toll free in Canada and the United States.
The Web site for Elections Canada is: www.elections.ca.
This document is also available for download in .pdf format.
