Ontario. Chief Election Officer

• Chief Election Officer

• Ontario. Office of the Chief Election Officer

• Elections Ontario

• Ontario. Chief Electoral Officer

The Chief Election Officer of Ontario was first appointed in 1920. Prior to this, election returns were prepared by the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, and other duties relating to elections were disbursed. The office of the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery continued to exist until 1951, and after that the Chief Election Officer also took on the preparation of returns.

For much of the period, 1926-1975, the positions of Clerk of the House and Chief Election Officer were held by one person. From 1926 until 1955, Alexander Lewis filled both positions, while from 1955 through 1975 his son Roderick Lewis was both Clerk and Chief Election Officer. Since 1975, they have been filled separately.

In 1974 the office was provided with a permanent staff and became known as the Office of the Chief Election Officer. In 1987, the name Elections Ontario was first used as an alternative for the Office, although the name Office of the Chief Election Officer continued to be used in official sources. The name of the Chief Election Officer was changed to Chief Electoral Officer in 2007.

From 1920 to 1948 the Chief Election Officer was paid directly through a special appropriation and reported directly to the Legislature, through the Office of the Speaker. In 1948 it was moved to the jurisdiction of the Department of the Provincial Secretary, known after 1961 as the Department of the Provincial Secretary and Citizenship. In 1972, when the Department of the Provincial Secretary and Citizenship ceased to exist, the Chief Election Officer again reported through the Office of the Speaker to the Legislative Assembly. In 1974 revisions to the Legislative Assembly Act reformed the administration of the Assembly by creating the Office of the Assembly, which was an administrative grouping containing all offices of the Legislative Assembly, and which was headed by the Speaker. The Chief Election Officer has since reported through that structure.

The Chief Election Officer conducts provincial elections in Ontario under the provisions of the Election Act, including directing the returning officers in each of the electoral districts (ridings), coordinating the appointment, training and payment of all election officials, and the rentals of equipment and supplies for all polling places. The office also provides detailed current and historical information relating to provincial elections.

Election Laws Amendment Act, Statutes of Ontario 1920, Chap. 2

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

George G. Bell and Andrew D. Pascoe, The Ontario Government Structure and Functions. Wall and Thompson, 1988.

Hazel MacTaggart, Publications of the Government of Ontario 1901-1950. University of Toronto Press, 1964.

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

Public Accounts of the Province of Ontario, 1973, 1974.

In 1973, this office appears to report through the Legislative Assembly, although it is included under Government Services in the Public Accounts. In 1974, it is listed as being within the "Office of the Speaker" and received a separate appropriation.

Archivist(s):
R. Anger