Elections Canada worker removed from poll duty for allegedly trying to influence voters in English and Urdu

Is the election process in Canada free and fair? This question is being raised after allegations that some Elections Canada workers were involved in influencing voters.

Elections Canada took immediate action following the complaints and pulled out a worker assigned to the Greater Toronto Area. The worker, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been sent to an administrative position following allegations of trying to sway votes for a particular candidate.

The allegations levelled against the poll worker by Liberal Party candidate Mubarak Ahmed stated that the offending person was trying to get votes for Conservative Party candidate Anna Roberts at Teston Village Public School in the King-Vaughan riding or federal electoral district in Ontario.


Teston Village Public School is an advance polling location where those eligible to cast their vote can do so. Mubarak Ahmed wrote a letter to Elections Canada on Saturday (April 19) accusing the said worker of trying to influence workers in English as well as Urdu. According to Ahmed's letter, the motive behind trying to influence Urdu-speaking or knowing voters was to target "a specific linguistic and cultural community within our riding".

Elections Canada spokesperson told CityNews that the accused worker has been removed from poll-related work. “We always take allegations of partisanship seriously. When allegations are raised, we look into them. The worker in question will not be present at any EC office or polling place. The integrity of the electoral process, and the perception of its integrity, are our priority,” the spokesperson told the Canadian media outlet.

The incident has been referred to the Commissioner of Canada Elections for further action.