About Us
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Since MMF went to one person, one vote (1981), we have engaged chief electoral officers. They were only involved in the first Regional and Presidential elections for a fixed term. After 2000, the process changed, and the CEO and the staff the CEO employed were engaged for terms of office with contracts specific to each election. But, again, the sole responsibility was elections for Cabinet.
As matters changed, the requirement to address Local elections and other issues became more pronounced. After 2015, a broader scope was created; by 2018, it was essentially a full-time commitment. In 2020, the Cabinet made a stand-alone Office for several matters.
The Office continues to supervise and report on the National elections of the Red River Métis, including any necessary by-elections. Our ongoing preparations ensure that the Office is ready immediately when such an election is called. To be prepared, recruiting Regional Returning Officers and local election officials is ongoing, as is the maintenance of the forms, materials and manuals necessary for such elections.
Additionally, the Office has now assumed responsibility for elections in every Local. Locals are required to have elections in the same year as National elections. As often happens, because there are 130 Locals, vacancies frequently occur. Each Local then contacts their Regional office or the Office of the Chief Electoral Office, and a mutually convenient date is found. One or more trained election officials then attend on the date set to conduct the election. All forms and required documentation are then kept so that there is a permanent record of every governance election in the MMF.
The Office plays a crucial role in coordinating the MMF’s participation in Federal, Provincial, and other elections. It assists in determining data and writing materials that enable the cabinet and the Assembly to identify the critical issues for each election. The office also facilitates the contact process to inform citizens of the issues and ensure they are aware of the voting details. At times, it even provides assistance to ensure people can cast their votes. This broader role underscores the Office’s impact beyond the MMF’s internal elections.
The Office is not just about elections. It also provides crucial support to Regions, the Cabinet, and the President in addressing the issues assigned to it. One key support is to the Governance Committee, where the Office delivers informational support for Locals and conducts ongoing reviews of governance structures and Constitutional documents. This collaborative approach underscores the Office’s commitment to supporting the broader goals of the MMF. The Department ensures that all citizens can participate in the Assembly by overseeing the participation online and at satellite locations while providing procedural advice to the Chairs.
Other duties may fall to the Office consistent with its support role to all levels of governance within MMF. We have now started to create and maintain the systemic entry and retrieval of governance documents like resolutions, policies and other records is now being undertaken by our Office.