Former PMO staffer fined for voting in wrong riding in 2021 election – National | 24CA News
Canada’s elections watchdog has fined a former staffer within the Prime Minister’s Office $1,500 for knowingly voting within the unsuitable federal driving in 2021.
A abstract of the discover of the violation on the election commissioner’s web site says Ayesha Chughtai tried to forged a poll on the returning officer’s workplace within the Alberta driving of Calgary Skyview on Sept. 2, 2021.
The discover says she was informed she couldn’t vote there as a result of she didn’t reside within the driving.
The discover says she tried to argue there was a rule permitting somebody who moved throughout the final six months to vote of their former electoral district, however she was informed she was unsuitable.
When she left the workplace, the commissioner says witnesses heard Chughtai inform workers she can be voting for the Liberal candidate, George Chahal, in an advance ballot.
She did so on Sept. 13.
The discover says that Chughtai was volunteering for Chahal on the time, in addition to being employed by the Liberal celebration through the election.
She was additionally working for the Prime Minister’s Office.
Chughtai has posted on Facebook to say that she’s conscious of the discover of violation.
“I wish to emphasize that at all times I acted in good faith. I continue to this day to own my home in the riding and I incorrectly believed that I was eligible to continue to vote in that riding,” she wrote.
“I regret the circumstances and have co-operated with Elections Canada throughout the process.”
The PMO didn’t reply to questions, as an alternative directing inquiries to the Liberal celebration.
In a written assertion, celebration spokesperson Matteo Rossi mentioned the celebration discovered of the matter from the web discover on Monday.
“Any violation of Canada’s election laws is completely unacceptable. Everyone must follow the rules governing elections,” Rossi wrote.
He declined to reply any additional questions, directing them as an alternative to Chughtai.
The commissioner of elections says the truth that Chughtai labored for the Liberals and the PMO, together with the truth that she reportedly mentioned she can be voting within the advance ballot in Calgary regardless of being informed she couldn’t accomplish that, have been aggravating components in her case.
That elevated her high quality from the baseline quantity of $1,000.
“The failure of those involved in the political process to comply with the rules adopted by Parliament to ensure a fair election can contribute to a loss of public confidence in the integrity of members of the political class, which may, as a result, increase voter apathy,” the discover of the high quality reads.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
