Procedure and House Affairs

The Procedure and House Affairs Committee met to study the challenges faced by Canadians living abroad who wish to vote, hearing from four academic experts on international electoral practices.

Élise Fraysse, an associate professor speaking on the French perspective, explained that French expatriates can vote online, by mail, or at consulates, and have had dedicated parliamentary representation since 2008 through 11 MPs and 12 senators. She noted that this system raises concerns about voter equality across ridings and the legitimacy of representing expats who may never have lived in France, and she linked the issue of expat voting to the parallel right of foreigners to vote in France.

Toby James, a professor from the University of East Anglia, described the United Kingdom’s recent removal of a 15-year limit on overseas voting, which theoretically enfranchised up to five million citizens, though only 191,000 registered and roughly half of postal ballots were returned. He highlighted that postal and proxy voting are the main mechanisms, but postal votes often arrive late, and he recommended that Canada consider proxy voting while ensuring sufficient resources and voter education for electoral officials.

Therese Pearce Laanela, head of electoral processes at International IDEA, identified two core problems for Canada: ballots arriving too late due to the short, unpredictable election period and reliance on two postal systems, and difficulty reaching eligible voters abroad. She suggested piloting innovations with out-of-country voters, such as replacing the postal delivery of voting kits with a digital option, and emphasized greater international co-operation and engagement through diplomatic missions.

Holly Ann Garnett, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, noted that only about 56% of special ballots from abroad are returned on time, with 19% arriving too late, and presented a menu of potential reforms. These included counting ballots postmarked by election day, allowing ballots to be sent to embassies, using private couriers, permitting voters to print ballots at home, and allowing scanning or email submission, though she cautioned that each option carries risks and would need careful evaluation.

During questioning, members explored various topics. Tako Van Popta asked about Internet voting’s impact on turnout, and Garnett noted that while it may not boost overall turnout, it can be essential for specific groups like those abroad. On proxy voting, James confirmed it is widely accepted in the U.K. after initial fraud concerns were addressed. Tim Louis asked about electronic delivery of ballots, and both Pearce Laanela and Garnett described hybrid models where ballots are downloaded but returned by mail, with Pearce Laanela advising that out-of-country voters are a good test group for such pilots. Alexis Deschênes questioned Fraysse on France’s dedicated expat ridings, and she acknowledged they provide visibility but noted challenges with large ridings and high abstention. Grant Jackson raised the issue of future generations of Canadians who have never lived in Canada, and Garnett suggested tying their vote to where a family member last voted, while Fraysse noted France allows attachment to a commune through ancestors. Jonathan Wilkinson asked for the single best reform to boost turnout; James recommended a dedicated overseas constituency, Pearce Laanela stressed better outreach through diplomatic channels, and Fraysse highlighted France’s success with electronic voting. Christine Normandin explored the French hybrid model, and Fraysse confirmed that expats can choose between voting in a domestic commune or a consular riding, with little debate about changing this. Élisabeth Brière raised cybersecurity risks of electronic voting, and Garnett, James, and Pearce Laanela all agreed that while full Internet voting is risky, small pilots for overseas voters could be a safe way to test the technology. Normandin also asked about the philosophical basis of citizenship, and Garnett emphasized that voting is a great equalizer for all Canadian citizens, regardless of where they live.