Guaranteed Electoral Rights
The right to vote and to stand for office was guaranteed in the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Legislatures can no longer override the right to vote as they had in the past, and citizens now have a basis on which to legally challenge any perceived loss or infringement of their electoral rights.

Building Legal Foundations
The Dominion Elections Act of 1920 was a breakthrough because it provided a strong legal foundation for the electoral system and created the independent office of Chief Electoral Officer. From that point on, political influence was removed from electoral administration. The Act also enabled a more professional approach to election management by centralizing financial and logistical operations. The legislation was improved many times over the years as it evolved into the current Canada Elections Act. In 1982, the legislative framework was further strengthened when the democratic principles underlying Canada’s electoral system were incorporated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.