Elections BC seeks to lengthen campaigns by three days, warns about child donors

Elections BC seeks to extend the campaign period for fixed-date elections by moving "writ day" and nomination deadlines to Wednesdays, alleviating administrative challenges associated with Saturday timelines. This change could extend the campaign period by three days. The report raises alarms about child donors, recommending potential age limits for contributions to prevent misuse of children's names in political funding. Moreover, it suggests imposing monetary penalties for misinformation in political advertising, enhancing accountability for advertisers. The agency also points out existing barriers to political party mergers, advocating for clearer rules to facilitate such processes.

Current laws create hurdles, including a 10-year ban on reusing names of deregistered parties. The report emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive framework for political contributions and advertising regulations. These recommendations aim to strengthen the electoral process and ensure fair practices.