Online Vote-Swapping Legal But Voter Beware
20/09/2008 04:44
Elections Canada
warningCanada's electoral watchdog has deemed online vote-swapping to be legal but warned that the scheme could be used to dupe voters into casting their ballot for certain parties.
Elections Canada began looking into the issue after a Facebook group surfaced last week urging people living in ridings likely to have tight races to swap votes as a way to keep Stephen Harper's Conservatives from winning a majority.
James Hale, a spokesman for the federal agency, said the act of encouraging someone to vote in a particular way is allowed under the Elections Act.
It's also acceptable for people to invite voters to participate in an organized strategic voting plan, whether on the internet or through other means, he said.
But, he said, "electors should be cautious for a couple of reasons."
More from CBC News.
SINC SAYS:
I still vote the old fashioned way by going to the poll and voting for the candidate I prefer.
