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Media guidelinesThe City of Vancouver encourages all media to report on the municipal election at every stage. Balanced media coverage stimulates public debate, and will help increase voter turn-out. Here are a few points, in chronological order, that may help local media and Election staff to facilitate media coverage where possible and, at the same time, avoid inappropriate electioneering or compromising the secrecy of the voting process, or invading the privacy of individuals.
Candidate announcements and electioneeringCity facilities should not be used for campaign purposes. There are two exceptions:
Council Chamber is not to be used for electioneering or any other election-related activity. Offices where City business takes place are not to be used for electioneering. Candidate listThe final list of candidates was provided to media in a news release on October 21, 2005. Advance PollsAdvance polls will be held November 5, 9, 15 and 16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at City Hall, as well as Dunbar, Trout Lake, and West End Community Centres. Election officials will report on advance poll activity levels, but not results. Media should note the same constraints apply to advance polls as on general voting day (see below). Advertising on Voting DayLocal media are reminded that partisan election advertising is NOT allowed on general voting day, which is November 19, 2005. Candidates who do place election advertising on general voting day, and any media that accept such advertising, could face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in prison. However, this ad ban does not apply to the City of Vancouver's Election Office, which advocates for the voting process, not particular candidates or political parties. Voting Day coverage (before 8 p.m. November 19)The City recognizes that local media want to get general images of people voting, and images of specific candidates voting. The City will permit such coverage, with a number of pre-conditions:
The difference between electioneering and straightforward media coverage of the election can be, at times, a subtle distinction. PEOs must be able to exercise discretion in this area. There may be individuals in the voting place who do not wish to have their picture taken. The PEO can assist these individuals by announcing to the room that a media outlet and camera person will come in and take pictures. Voting Day coverage (after 8 p.m. November 19)Polls close in the City of Vancouver at 8 p.m. The first poll results are expected to arrive at City Hall around 8:30 p.m. Typically, the last poll results arrive around 9:45 to 10 p.m. During this time, City Election staff will be extremely busy tabulating results of the various races in the election. Distribution or data manipulation that is customized for specific media will not be considered. IMPORTANT NOTE: Council Chamber on the third floor of Vancouver City Hall will NOT be open to the public and media on November 19, 2005. Election officials will be available for interviews on the first floor of City Hall after 8 p.m. The following arrangements have been made to display election results to the public after 8 p.m. on November 19:
A news release of unofficial results will be issued by the City some time after 10 p.m. on November 19. This release will be faxed to local media that night, and made available on the City's web pages, and via the City's news release listserv. An Excel spreadsheet of the unofficial, poll-by-poll results will be available on the City's election Web site some time after 10 p.m. on November 19. Official election results will be declared November 23 at 4 p.m. How to interpret Election 2005 resultsThe Vancouver Voters List for the 2005 municipal election is 40 per cent larger than the 2002 voters list (more than 411,000 voters for 2005, compared to 293,000 voters in 2002). This increase is attributed to the amalgamation of voters lists from Elections Canada and Elections BC. Through amalgamation of the federal and provincial voters lists, and with municipal staff input, City Election staff will have a more accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive voters list. But this dramatic change will make comparisons with past elections more problematic. In the 2002 municipal election, for example, Vancouver had a voter turnout of about 48 per cent. If roughly the same number of people vote in 2005, voter turnout would calculate out at 34 per cent. Because of the significantly larger voters list this time, comparing 2005 to previous elections would be like comparing 'apples to oranges'. To avoid confusion, Vancouver Election staff will give absolute numbers of voters in Election 2005. Staff may also give voter turnout as a percentage, but comparisons with percentages from previous elections would be inaccurate and misleading. Federal, provincial and municipal voters lists are always a work in progress. They are a 'snapshot' of the population at the time. As time passes, the lists grow more inaccurate. These inaccuracies can be caused by life changes that are not reported to Elections Canada or Elections BC, such as: migration into and out of the province; migration between municipalities; change of address within the municipality; new voters turning 18 years of age; and death. Vancouver's Chief Election Officer reminds voters that it is their responsibility to update their own voter information. The City helps voters do this by accepting new registrations in advance (deadline was September 27) and on the day of voting (advance voting opportunities are November 5, 9, 15 and 16, and election day is November 19). Updating voter information is also easily done by:
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