New initiatives to serve Indigenous voters being launched by Elections Canada

This spring, reportedly leaders in Indigenous communities leaders would be contacted by returning officers in 28 electoral districts and plan with them the delivery of electoral services in the 2019 election.  

The goal reportedly should be to improve access, Stéphane Perrault, Canada's acting chief electoral officer,said.

"Indigenous voters may decide to participate, or not, and they have all kinds of historical reasons that will inform their choice," Perrault  was reported to tell CBC News. "It's not for us to be a player in that, but we want to make sure that when they do choose to participate, that there's no administrative barrier."

Perrault added that  Elections Canada's strategic plan to recruit more Indigenous people to work as returning officers  and encourage their participation in local events in the communities would begin 18 months ahead of the campaign.

Returning officers would reportedly train Indigenous populations in their ridings to be culturally competent in indigenous people's terminology and keep them well-informed about the socio-demographics on Indigenous people in Canada, their historical experiences, stereotypes and misconceptions. 

Turnout in on-reserve polling divisions, as reported by Elections Canada, had shown a positive historical increase from 47.4 percent in 2011 to 61.5 percent in 2015 federal election.

Perrault was reported to say that it was an important reflection of reconciliation and added, "I have a lot of respect for the decision that they make to participate or not participate, but obviously I welcome their participation and hope that it increases," he said.

"Our role is to make sure that if they want to participate, that we're there for them."

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)