Dominion Elections Act

Dominion Elections Act
Parliament of Canada
  • An Act respecting the Election of Members of the House of Commons and the Electoral Franchise
CitationS.C. 1920 (10 & 11 Geo V), c. 46
Enacted byHouse of Commons of Canada
EnactedJune 29, 1920
Enacted bySenate of Canada
Assented toJuly 1, 1920
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Commons of Canada
Bill title12
Introduced byHugh Guthrie
First readingMarch 11, 1920
Second readingMarch 25-26, 1920
Third readingJune 28, 1920
Second chamber: Senate of Canada
Bill title12
Member(s) in chargeJames Alexander Lougheed
First readingJune 29, 1920
Second readingN/A
Third readingJune 29, 1920
Repeals
Amended by
  • SC 1921 (11 & 12 Geo V), c 29
  • SC 1925 (15 & 16 Geo V), c 42
  • SC 1929 (19 & 20 Geo V), c 40
  • SC 1930 (20 & 21 Geo V), c 16
Repealed by
Dominion Elections Act, 1932
Related legislation
Canada Elections Act
Status: Repealed

The Dominion Elections Act (French: Acte des élections fédérales du Dominion) was a bill passed by the House of Commons of Canada in 1920, under Robert Borden's Unionist government. The Act allowed white women to run for the Parliament of Canada. However, women from most/all minorities, for example, Aboriginals and Asians, were not granted these rights. This bill was passed due in part to the advocacy of Nellie McClung, a women's rights activist from Manitoba.

The law established the agency now known as Elections Canada with the position of Chief Electoral Officer as head of the agency.