November 8, 2002

The City of Vancouver has issued the following media guidelines for the upcoming civic election:

Voting Day coverage (before 8 p.m.)
Local media are reminded that election advertising is not allowed on voting day. Voting places in the City of Vancouver are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 16.

The City recognizes that local media will want to obtain general images of people voting, and images of specific candidates voting. The City will permit such media coverage, with a number of pre-conditions:

• Media coverage must not interfere with the smooth operation of the voting place.
• Camera operators and reporters should approach the Presiding Election Officer (PEO) upon entering the voting place.
• Camera operators/reporters must sign a declaration of secrecy upon entering a voting place.
• Electioneering at a voting place, or within 100m of a voting place, is strictly forbidden (as is any media coverage of such activity). This means candidates who are voting, with attendant media coverage, must not wear or carry election materials (buttons etc). Also, political commentary must be filmed more than 100m away from a voting place.
• Interviews or “scrums” in the voting place are not allowed.
• The privacy of individuals in the voting place, and the secrecy of the ballot, should be respected by the media.

Voting Day coverage (after 8 p.m.)
Polls close in the City of Vancouver at 8 p.m. The first poll results are expected to arrive at City Hall around 8:20 p.m. Typically, the last poll results arrive around 9:45 to 10:00 p.m.

During this time, City Election staff will be extremely busy tabulating results of the various races in the election. Staff will make every effort to present to the media the most up-to-date results during the evening. However, customized distribution or any form of data analysis will not be considered.

The following arrangements have been made to display election results to the public after 8 p.m. on November 16:

• Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall will be open to the public and media after 7 p.m. Upper and lower public galleries will be open.
• The third floor foyer will be available for incidental interviews and media scrums.
• Committee Room 3 will be available for use by the media.
• first poll results are not likely to be available before 8:20 p.m.
  
• election results will be continuously displayed on the City’s web site at
  www.city.vancouver.bc.ca (this will be refreshed approx. every 10 minutes)
• Tabular results of all four races, and a map of the Mayor’s race, will be displayed via LCD projector in Council Chamber (results will refresh approx. every 10 minutes).
  
• Hard copy print-outs of results will be available approx. every half-hour in Council Chamber.
• Raw data will be sent electronically (via automated FTP) to media outlets that have made prior arrangements. These results will be refreshed approx. every 10 minutes.

Obtaining Results
A news release of unofficial results will be issued by the City some time after
10 p.m. on November 16. This release will be available in hard copy in Council Chamber, faxed to local media that night, available on the City’s web pages, and via the City’s newsrelease listserver.

An Excel spreadsheet of the unofficial results will be available on the City’s election web site some time after 10 p.m. on November 16.

Media outlets wishing to receive raw election results via automated FTP must contact Jonathan Mark at 604-873-7987 as soon as possible.

Media outlets wishing to receive electronic copy of the unofficial results news release can subscribe to the news release listserver by sending an appropriate e-mail address, before November 15, to paul_heraty@city.vancouver.bc.ca

Those wishing to have results faxed to specific fax numbers should call Paul Heraty at 604-871-6173 before November 15.

Official election results will be declared by November 20 at 4 p.m.

Media enquiries:
Marg Coulson
Deputy Chief Election Officer
604-873-7349
www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/vote

(c) 2002 City of Vancouver