Why are elections held only in Canada on Monday? The tradition and logic behind Election Day
Canadian elections are always held on Monday. This is due to the combination of historical precedents, legislative guidelines, practical considerations and cultural reasons. Basically it is to achieve balance voter accessibility, administrative efficiency and tradition.
The election was held in Canada on Monday, April 28. However, it is no coincidence that the country conducts polls on this day. Elections in this country are always held on Monday. This is due to the combination of historical precedents, legislative guidelines, practical considerations and cultural reasons. It is basically to strike a balance between voter access, administrative efficiency and tradition.
Canadian election law
The Canadian Election Act laid the foundation for the tradition of holding elections on Monday, although it did not explicitly require it. The bill was amended in 2007 to make elections necessary on the third Monday of every four years. If the Parliament dissolves and the election is held before that, the date can be changed; however, it should be held on Monday.
Under the Canadian Election Act, the campaign should be at least 36 days. However, the event should end the day before Monday to ensure that the last day of the vote is a working day. This is done to encourage voters to have a large turnout and provide plenty of time for the Canadian election to prepare for the polling stations over the weekend.
The poll was also held on Monday for historical reasons. Although many of the population lived in rural areas in the past era and they needed time to go to the polling station, they had enough time. Voting is held on Monday so voters are allowed to travel on Sunday (not labor days). Elections are also not held on weekdays as these days are reserved for religious or family activities.
British tradition
Monday became a common choice for Canada because the election system in Canada was deeply influenced by British parliamentary customs, and elections were held historically on weekdays. This became a tradition, and the polls were held on Mondays in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021, just to further consolidate the practice. Monday’s elections also allow Canadian elections to ensure that initial voting begins immediately after the polls are over, with results announced Monday night or earlier Tuesday.
Liberals and Conservatives
Canadians will decide whether Monday will put the Liberal Party in power for a decade or put conservatives in manual control. They would choose the direction that Prime Minister Mark Carney or opposition leader Pierre Poilievre leads, but the election is also a referendum for people who are not even Canadians: Donald Trump. Until the U.S. president won his second term and began to threaten Canada’s economy and sovereignty, even suggesting that the country should become the 51st state, the Liberal Party seemed to be heading for failure.
Canadians conducted a poll as the country struggled after Saturday’s deadly crash attack in Vancouver. Tragedy on the eve of the election prompted people to shut down for several hours. Police ruled out terrorism and said the suspect was a local and had a history of mental health problems.
(Input with APTN)
