Electoral System Referendum Act

t ELECTORAL SYSTEM REFERENDUM ACT PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this Act, current to May 29, 2026. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of the Act. The Act and the amendments as printed under the authority of the King’s Printer for the province should be consulted to determine the authoritative statement of the law. For more information concerning the history of this Act, please see the Table of Public Acts on the Prince Edward Island Government web site (www.princeedwardisland.ca). If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4292 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca Electoral System Referendum Act INTERPRETATION ELECTORAL SYSTEM REFERENDUM ACT CHAPTER E-2.2 INTERPRETATION Definitions In this Act, (a) “Chief Electoral Officer” has the same meaning as in the Election Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. E-1.1; (b) “contribution” includes (i) money donated in order for a referendum advertiser to incur referendum expenses, or to otherwise support a referendum advertiser’s opposition to or support of a mixed member proportional voting system related to the referendum, as the case may be, (ii) other property or services provided free of charge or at less than market value, when provided in order for a referendum advertiser to incur referendum expenses, or to otherwise support a referendum advertiser's opposition to or support of a mixed member proportional voting system related to the referendum, as the case may be, and (iii) any fees paid to a referendum advertiser for membership in the organization, but does not include (iv) public money paid to a registered referendum advertiser under section 16, and (v) any voluntary unpaid labour; (c) “election ballot” means a ballot used to vote at the general election; (d) “financial agent” means a person who is appointed as the financial agent of a registered referendum advertiser under section 9 or 15; (e) “general election” means, unless the context requires otherwise, the first general election to take place under the Election Act after the coming into force of this Act; (f) “opponent”, in respect of the referendum, means an organization that is registered as a registered referendum advertiser in accordance with section 10 and identifies in its application for registration that its members oppose a change in the voting system to a mixed member proportional voting system; (g) “ordinary polling day” means the day fixed pursuant to section 5 of the Election Act for holding the poll at the general election; (h) “organization” means a group of individuals, whether incorporated or not, who are acting together by mutual consent for a common purpose; (i) “pre-referendum expenses” means an amount paid or a liability incurred after the date of the coming into force of this Act and prior to the referendum period, for the c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 3 INTERPRETATION Electoral System Referendum Act purpose of opposing or supporting, directly or indirectly, one or the other of the possible answers to the referendum question, including (i) advertising expenses, (ii) the cost of acquiring the services of any person, including remuneration paid to the person, and (iii) the cost of acquiring meeting or event space, providing refreshments and acquiring and distributing promotional material; (j) “principal member”, in relation to an organization, means (i) an individual director of the organization, or (ii) if there are no individual directors of the organization, the principal officers or the members that the organization identifies as the principal members of the organization in its application for registration; (k) “proponent”, in respect of the referendum, means an organization that is registered as a registered referendum advertiser and identifies in its application for registration that its members support a change in the voting system to a mixed member proportional voting system; (l) “public money” means money paid out under the authority of this Act to be used by registered referendum advertisers for the purposes set out in subsection 17(2), and includes, for all purposes including the repayment of the public money, any interest earned on the money; (m) “question” and “referendum question” mean the question specified in section 3; (n) “referendum” means the referendum required to be conducted under section 3; (o) “referendum advertiser” means any individual who or corporation or organization that intends to incur or has incurred referendum expenses during the referendum period; (p) “referendum advertising” means a message, respecting the referendum, transmitted to the public by any means during the referendum period, that opposes or supports, directly or indirectly, one or the other of the possible answers to the referendum question, but does not include (i) the transmission to the public by a member of the media or a media organization of an editorial, a debate, a speech, an interview, a column, a letter, a commentary or news, (ii) the distribution of a book, or the promotion of the sale of a book, for no less than its commercial value, if it was planned that the book be made available to the public regardless of whether the referendum is being held, (iii) the transmission of a document directly by a person or an organization to its members, employees or shareholders, as the case may be, (iv) the transmission by an individual, on a non-commercial basis, of his or her personal political views via the Internet, and (v) a communication with the public by a political party, candidate or a potential candidate in relation to the general election that does not oppose or support one of the answers to the referendum; (q) “referendum advertising expense” means an amount paid or a liability incurred for the purpose of producing or transmitting referendum advertising during the referendum period; (r) “referendum ballot” means a ballot used to vote at the referendum; (s) “referendum ballot paper” means the ballot paper to be used in the referendum; Page 4 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act PURPOSE (t) “Referendum Commissioner” means the person appointed as Referendum Commissioner under section 5; (u) “referendum expenses” means an amount paid or a liability incurred by or on behalf of a referendum advertiser, during the referendum period, for the purpose of opposing or supporting, directly or indirectly, one or the other of the possible answers to the referendum question, including (i) referendum advertising expenses, (ii) the cost of acquiring the services of any person, including remuneration paid to the person, and (iii) the cost of acquiring meeting or event space, providing refreshments and acquiring and distributing promotional material, but does not include (iv) the reasonable expenses incurred by a person, out of his or her own money, for his or her own lodging, food or transportation during a journey for purposes related to the referendum, if the expenses are not reimbursed to the person; (v) “referendum period” means the period commencing on the date established by the order made pursuant to section 27 and ending on the date that the report of the Referendum Commissioner is delivered to the Speaker pursuant to section 7; (w) “registered political party” means a registered party as defined in the Election Expenses Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. E-2.01, and includes an association or organization of a registered political party; (x) “registered referendum advertiser” means a referendum advertiser that becomes registered under section 10; (y) “unregistered referendum advertiser” means a referendum advertiser that is not eligible to be registered in accordance with section 10 or is eligible to be registered but is not registered in accordance with section 10; (z) “voting system” and “electoral system” mean a system for electing members of the Legislative Assembly. 2018,c.25,s.1. PURPOSE Purpose The purpose of this Act is to make the process for the referendum transparent and fair in order to obtain a clear expression of the will of Islanders, by (a) establishing the referendum question to enable the expression of a sovereign decision by Islander as to their electoral future; (b) providing for the appointment of a Referendum Commissioner who is an officer of the Legislative Assembly and who will oversee related matters leading up to and after the referendum vote; and (c) establishing a level playing field for those who wish to publicly oppose or support a change to the voting system as set out in the referendum question, by providing for equal public funding for organizations who register as registered referendum advertisers and are opposing or supporting one or the other of the possible answers to the referendum question, and by limiting spending on paid advertising in a reasonable manner, for the public good, so that residents of the province have the opportunity to make a decision that is based on information from both points of view. 2018,c.25,s.2. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 5 REFERENDUM QUESTION Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM QUESTION Referendum on electoral system required (1) A referendum respecting the mixed member proportional voting system shall be conducted throughout the province in conjunction with the general election. Question (2) At the referendum, a person who is entitled to vote may indicate his or her approval or disapproval in respect of the referendum by answering the following question: “Should Prince Edward Island change its voting system to a mixed member proportional voting system?” Form of question (3) The question shall appear on the referendum ballot paper as set out in Schedule 1 to this Act. Persons entitled to vote (4) Persons who are entitled to vote at the general election are entitled to vote at the referendum. 2018,c.25,s.3. When referendum is binding (1) The result of the referendum is binding on the Government only if (a) more than 50% of the validly cast referendum ballots vote the same way on the question; and (b) in at least 60% of electoral districts, more than 50% of the validly cast referendum ballots vote the same way on the question. Duty if binding (2) Where (a) the result of the referendum is binding in accordance with subsection (1); and (b) the electors referred to in that subsection vote in favour of adopting a mixed member proportional system, the Government shall take steps that the Government considers necessary or advisable to implement the result of the referendum, including introducing the legislation needed to implement a mixed member proportional system that is substantially as described in Schedule 2 to this Act, in sufficient time for that voting system to be in place for the next following general election required under the Election Act. 2018,c.25,s.4. REFERENDUM COMMISSIONER Referendum Commissioner (1) There shall be a Referendum Commissioner to guide the referendum process, including by engaging the public in the process and providing public education related to the referendum. Officer of the Assembly (2) The Referendum Commissioner is an officer of the Legislative Assembly. Page 6 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM COMMISSIONER Appointment (3) The Referendum Commissioner shall be appointed by the Legislative Assembly (a) on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Legislative Management; and (b) following a resolution of the Legislative Assembly supported by at least two-thirds of the members. Term of office (4) The Referendum Commissioner holds office from the date stated in the appointment until the report required by section 7 is delivered to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Remuneration (5) The Referendum Commissioner shall be paid the remuneration and allowances that are fixed by the Standing Committee on Legislative Management. Referendum Commissioner, responsible to (6) In performing his or her duties, the Referendum Commissioner shall be responsible solely to the Legislative Assembly. Staff (7) The Referendum Commissioner may hire legal counsel, auditors and the staff that are required, and expend the money that is required, to perform the duties of the office. 2018,c.25,s.5. Powers and duties of Referendum Commissioner (1) The Referendum Commissioner shall (a) implement public education and information programs relating to the referendum, referendum advertising and voting systems, including the mixed member proportional system as described in Schedule 2 to this Act; (b) take the steps that he or she considers necessary to assist individuals and eligible organizations to organize to register as registered referendum advertisers; (c) take the steps that he or she considers necessary to register eligible referendum advertisers in a timely manner; (d) issue to the members and financial agents of registered referendum advertisers the instructions that he or she considers necessary to ensure the effective execution of the provisions of this Act; (e) announce the final result of the referendum, after the completion of the count under the Election Act, in a manner that the Referendum Commissioner considers will inform the public of that result; (f) provide a report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly as set out in section 7; and (g) perform such other duties as are assigned to him or her by this Act. Media information by Referendum Commissioner (2) The Referendum Commissioner may, using any media or other means that the Referendum Commissioner considers appropriate, provide the public with information relating to the referendum, the limitations on spending by referendum advertisers, the assistance available to those interested in joining or forming an organization to register as a registered referendum advertiser and the funding that will be available to registered referendum advertisers. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 7 REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Electoral System Referendum Act Powers of Referendum Commissioner (3) The Referendum Commissioner may make inquiries, require reports and issue directions, as he or she considers necessary in order to execute the intent of this Act. Referendum Commissioner cannot override Chief Electoral Officer’s authority (4) For greater certainty, the authority of the Referendum Commissioner under this Act does not apply with respect to matters for which the Chief Electoral Officer has been given authority under this Act. 2018,c.25,s.6. Report to Speaker of Legislative Assembly (1) The Referendum Commissioner shall, before or during the session of the Legislative Assembly next following the general election, and after the financing reports required to be filed under subsection 12(4) have been filed, deliver a report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (a) respecting the public education and information efforts undertaken in the province pursuant to clause 6(1)(a); (b) related to the contents of the financing reports; and (c) concerning any matter related to the referendum and the referendum process that he or she considers should be brought to the attention of the Legislative Assembly. Submission of report to Legislative Assembly (2) The Speaker shall submit the report received from the Referendum Commissioner to the Legislative Assembly. 2018,c.25,s.7. REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Restrictions on pre-referendum expenses - individuals (1) Only an individual who may make contributions under section 16 may incur pre-referendum expenses. Restrictions on pre-referendum expenses - organizations (2) Only an organization that meets all the following requirements may incur pre-referendum expenses: (a) the organization has no fewer than five members; (b) the organization is not for profit; (c) the members and any directors of the organization are not compensated for being members or directors of the organization; (d) membership in the organization is voluntary; (e) at least two-thirds of the principal members of the organization have been ordinarily resident in the province for at least six months immediately before July 1, 2018. Restriction on unregistered referendum advertisers (3) An unregistered referendum advertiser shall not incur referendum expenses that exceed $1,000 in total. Page 8 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Association with other unregistered referendum advertisers (4) If an unregistered referendum advertiser is in compliance with subsection (1) or (2), as applicable, an unregistered referendum advertiser may associate with other unregistered referendum advertisers, but the unregistered referendum advertisers in association shall not collectively incur referendum expenses that exceed $10,000 in total. Referendum advertiser to be identified on referendum advertising (5) A referendum advertiser shall identify himself, herself or itself in any referendum advertising that he, she or it places, and shall indicate that he, she or it has authorized the advertising. Who is eligible to be registered referendum advertiser (6) Subject to subsection (7), a referendum advertiser is eligible to be registered as a registered referendum advertiser if all of the following apply: (a) the referendum advertiser is an organization with no fewer than five members; (b) the organization is not for profit; (c) the members and any directors of the organization are not compensated for being members or directors of the organization; (d) membership in the organization is voluntary; (e) at least two-thirds of the principal members of the organization have been ordinarily resident in the province for at least six months immediately before July I, 2018; (f) the organization has not incurred referendum expenses that exceed $1,000 in total. Who is not eligible to be registered referendum advertiser (7) An organization is not eligible to be registered as a registered referendum advertiser if (a) the organization is a political party or an organization or association of a political party; (b) any of the principal members of the organization (i) is a candidate in the general election, intends to be a candidate in the general election or is the official agent of a candidate in the general election, (ii) is an election officer or a member of the staff of the Chief Electoral Officer, (iii) is the Referendum Commissioner or a member of the staff of the Referendum Commissioner; (c) more than one-third of the members of the organization are not ordinarily resident in the province; (d) the organization is a for profit corporation; or (e) the organization is a trade union. 2018,c.25,s.8. Registration (1) An eligible referendum advertiser may apply to be registered in accordance with this section. Financial agent required (2) Before applying to be registered, a referendum advertiser shall appoint a financial agent. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 9 REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Electoral System Referendum Act Who may be financial agent (3) An individual is eligible to be a financial agent unless any of the following circumstances apply: (a) any of the circumstances set out in subclause 8(7)(b)(i), (ii) or (iii) apply with respect to the individual; (b) the individual is an undischarged bankrupt; (c) in the past five years, the individual has been convicted, in or out of the province, of an offence involving fraud; (d) the individual does not have full capacity to enter into contracts; (e) the individual is not 18 years of age or older; (f) the individual's appointment as a financial agent is rescinded under this Act; (g) the individual is appointed as the financial agent of another referendum advertiser. Application (4) An application shall (a) if the Referendum Commissioner specifies the form of the application, be in that form; (b) include the name of the organization and, if different from the name of the organization, the name that the organization proposes to use as a registered referendum advertiser; (c) include a statement of the organization's mandate or mission, including whether the organization opposes or supports a mixed member proportional voting system; (d) include a statement of the organization’s proposed budget; (e) include the address and telephone number to which notices and other communications under this Act may be delivered or made; (f) include a list of the principal members of the organization, including their names, addresses and titles; (g) include the name of the financial agent appointed by the organization; (h) include information respecting the matters set out in subsections 8(6) and (7) and in subsection (3) of this section; and (i) include a written statement, signed by two of the principal members of the organization, that the information contained in the application is, to the best of their knowledge and belief, true and complete. 2018,c.25,s.9. Registration process (1) As soon as practicable the Referendum Commissioner shall assess the applications received under section 9. Assessment (2) An assessment under subsection (1) shall, based on the information contained in the applications, take into account all of the following criteria: (a) the eligibility of the organization, under section 8, to be registered; (b) the eligibility of the financial agent under section 9; (c) whether the name that the organization proposes to use may create confusion because of its similarity to the name of another organization or corporation, or whether the name may be, in the Referendum Commissioner’s opinion, otherwise inappropriate. Page 10 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Information (3) The Referendum Commissioner may request further information in respect of how the organization or its principal members, financial agent or name meet the criteria set out in subsection (2). Registration (4) The Referendum Commissioner shall register any organization that meets the criteria referred to in subsection (2). Change of name (5) Before registering an organization under subsection (4), the Referendum Commissioner may, on the basis of the Referendum Commissioner’s assessment under subsection (2), require the organization to use another name when acting as a registered referendum advertiser. 2018,c.25,s.10. Notice Upon registering an organization as a registered referendum advertiser, the Referendum Commissioner shall do the following: (a) give written notice to the organization (i) that the organization has been registered as a registered referendum advertiser, and either as an opponent or a proponent, as the case may be, (ii) that the individual appointed as financial agent by the organization has the powers and duties of a financial agent, and (iii) of the name the organization is required to use when acting as a registered referendum advertiser; (b) publish the names of the registered referendum advertisers and their financial agents in the manner that the Referendum Commissioner considers appropriate. 2018,c.25,s.11. Duties of financial agents (1) Public money and contributions paid to a registered referendum advertiser under this Act shall be (a) deposited in a bank account established by the financial agent on behalf of the registered referendum advertiser for which the financial agent is acting, and used solely for the purposes of this Act; and (b) maintained in the account until used or repaid in accordance with this Act. Approval of spending by financial agent (2) No person other than the financial agent or a representative of a financial agent authorized in writing by the financial agent shall incur or authorize referendum expenses on behalf of the registered referendum advertiser. Time for submission of payment claims (3) Every person who has any claim for payment in relation to a referendum expense shall submit the claim within 30 days after ordinary polling day to the financial agent of the registered referendum advertiser that incurred the referendum expenses. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 11 REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Electoral System Referendum Act Financing reports (4) Financial agents shall, within 90 days after ordinary polling day, file financing reports with the Referendum Commissioner, in a form approved by the Referendum Commissioner, accompanied by the invoices, receipts and other vouchers and an affidavit of the financial agent verifying the report and stating that no payment not permitted by this Act was made with his or her knowledge and consent and that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief every expense incurred is entered in the report. Referendum advertiser to be identified on referendum advertising (5) The financial agent of a registered referendum advertiser shall identify himself or herself and the registered referendum advertiser in any referendum advertising that he, she or it places, and shall indicate that the registered referendum advertiser has authorized the advertising. 2018,c.25,s.12. Application of Election Expenses Act (1) Subsections 3(1), except clause (d), and (4), sections 4-6, subsections 13(3) and (4) and sections 27 and 28 of the Election Expenses Act apply, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary changes, to registered referendum advertisers as if they were registered parties under that Act, unless the provision is excluded or modified, expressly or impliedly, by a provision in, or a direction made under, this Act, and, in particular, references in those sections (a) to official agents shall be construed as a reference to financial agents; (b) to the Chief Electoral Officer shall be construed as a reference to the Referendum Commissioner; (c) to financial returns shall be construed as a reference to financing reports; (d) to election expenses shall be construed as a reference to referendum expenses; (e) to two years after the date of broadcast or publication shall be construed as a reference to six months after the date of broadcast or publication; and (f) to political advertisement and political advertising shall be construed as a reference to referendum advertising. Provisions of this Act overrule (2) Subsection (1) is subject to the provisions of this Act. 2018,c.25,s.13. Adaptation for purposes of this Act (1) For the purpose of carrying into effect sections 8 to 13 and 15 to 21, and related definitions, or in order to adapt any of those sections or the Election Expenses Act, in respect of a particular circumstance related to referendum advertisers, registered referendum advertisers or the responsibilities of the Referendum Commissioner, the Referendum Commissioner may issue a direction as he or she considers necessary or advisable in order to execute the intent of this Act and the Election Expenses Act. Notice--when (2) The Referendum Commissioner shall provide notice of the direction in accordance with subsection (3) as soon as possible after the direction is made. Notice--how (3) The direction shall be published on a website on the Internet and copies shall be provided to the Chief Electoral Officer and the financial agents of the registered referendum advertisers. Page 12 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Effect of section and direction (4) Any action taken in accordance with this section or a direction made under this section is not invalid or contrary to the law only by reason of any inconsistency with this Act or the Election Expenses Act. 2018,c.25,s.14. Changes in financial agent (1) If a financial agent’s appointment is rescinded under section 21 or a financial agent otherwise ceases to hold office, the members of the registered referendum advertiser shall immediately appoint a new financial agent who meets the eligibility requirements in subsection 9(3), and shall notify the Referendum Commissioner of his or her name, address and telephone number and include a written statement signed by two of the principal members of the organization that the new financial agent meets the eligibility requirements. Transfer of public money and records required (2) If a new financial agent is appointed under this section, the former financial agent shall immediately transfer to the newly appointed financial agent the responsibility and all related records for the bank account referred to in section 12, the public money received by the former financial agent and the records required to be kept under this Act. Duties continue to apply (3) Despite no longer being a financial agent, whether a new financial agent is appointed or not, the duties set out in sections 18 to 20 continue to apply to a former financial agent in respect of matters related to the period when that individual was a financial agent. 2018,c.25,s.15. Contributions to referendum advertisers (1) A referendum advertiser (a) shall only accept contributions from individuals who are ordinarily resident in the province; (b) shall only use contributions received from individuals who are ordinarily resident in the province; and (c) shall not accept contributions from any one individual that in total exceed $1,000. Meaning of “ordinarily resident” (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the place where an individual is ordinarily resident is the place where the individual lives and to which, when absent, the individual intends to return. Only one place of ordinary residence (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), an individual can have only one place of ordinary residence and it cannot be lost until another is gained. Application for public money (4) Registered referendum advertisers shall apply for a share of the public money by the date required by the Referendum Commissioner. Payment of public money to registered referendum advertisers (5) As soon as practicable after the date for receiving applications has passed, the Referendum Commissioner shall make payments as set out below and in subsection (6): (a) $150,000 in total shall be paid, with c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 13 REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Electoral System Referendum Act (i) $75,000 in total being allocated to the registered referendum advertisers that identified themselves on their registration applications as opponents and have applied for a share of the public money, and (ii) $75,000 in total being allocated to the registered referendum advertisers that identified themselves on their registration applications as proponents and have applied for a share of the public money; (b) payments may be made to financial agents only. Amounts (6) The total amount to be paid to each of the registered referendum advertisers shall be determined as follows: (a) the $75,000 allocated under subclause (5)(a)(i) shall be divided by the number of registered referendum advertisers that identified as opponents and have applied for a share of the public money, and the resulting amount paid to each of them; (b) the $75,000 allocated under subclause (5)(a)(ii) shall be divided by the number of registered referendum advertisers that identified as proponents and have applied for a share of the public money, and the resulting amount paid to each of them. 2018,c.25,s.16. How public money may be used (1) For the purposes of this section and sections 18 and 19 (a) “disqualified person” means (i) an organization that is not eligible under section 8 to be a registered referendum advertiser, or (ii) an individual described in subclause 8(7)(b)(i), (ii) or (iii); (b) “member” means a member of a registered referendum advertiser, and includes the financial agent of the registered referendum advertiser. Public money to be used only for permitted purposes (2) A member shall only use the public money received by the registered referendum advertiser for referendum expenses, and shall not incur a capital expense. Prohibition on accepting money that is not public money (3) A member shall not accept money that is not public money after the registered referendum advertiser receives public money pursuant to section 16. Prohibition on using money that is not public money (4) A member shall not use money that is not public money after the registered referendum advertiser receives public money pursuant to section 16 for referendum expenses or generally for the purposes of opposing or supporting a mixed member proportional voting system, as the case may be, on behalf of the registered referendum advertiser. Prohibition on using public money for political purposes (5) A member shall not use the public money received by the registered referendum advertiser for the purpose of election advertising or making political donations, even if the election advertising or political donation would be used to oppose or support a mixed member proportional voting system. Page 14 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Prohibition on using public money to benefit disqualified persons (6) A member shall not use the public money received by the registered referendum advertiser in a manner that a reasonable person would consider (a) is primarily for the benefit of a disqualified person; or (b) features (i) the name of a disqualified person, (ii) the face or voice of a disqualified person, or (iii) a slogan, a logo or another thing that is associated with a disqualified person, regardless of whether the public money is also used to oppose or support a mixed member proportional voting system. Prohibition on spending more than public money received (7) A member shall not, after the registered referendum advertiser receives public money pursuant to section 16, spend more than the amount of public money received by the registered referendum advertiser for referendum expenses of the registered referendum advertiser. Directions (8) The Referendum Commissioner may issue directions respecting what a capital expense is, for the purpose of subsection (2). 2018,c.25,s.17. Repayment of unused public money (1) A financial agent shall repay to the Referendum Commissioner public money held by the financial agent as follows: (a) if the financial agent receives a notice of repayment under subsection (3), repayment shall be made in the amount and within the time stated by the notice; (b) if any public money is not used for referendum expenses, repayment of the amount of unused public money shall be made (i) within 60 days of the end of the registration period, or (ii) if debts are outstanding or in dispute, such longer period as the Referendum Commissioner permits on request; (c) if public money is returned to the financial agent from any source, such as from a rebate or refund, the amount of the returned public money shall be repaid within 15 days of its receipt. Repayment may be required (2) The Referendum Commissioner may, at any time, require a financial agent to repay all or part of the unused public money held by the financial agent if the Referendum Commissioner has reason to believe that any of the following grounds apply: (a) the organization on behalf of which the financial agent is acting is not eligible to be a registered referendum advertiser, or is not an opponent or proponent, as the case may be; (b) the person is not eligible to be a financial agent, or has contravened any provision of this Act; (c) the registered referendum advertiser or a member has contravened any provision of this Act. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 15 REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS Electoral System Referendum Act Notice of requirement to repay (3) The Referendum Commissioner may require repayment under subsection (2) by delivering to the financial agent a notice of repayment setting out (a) the amount owed; (b) the time in which the amount shall be repaid; (c) the reason for the repayment; and (d) the manner in which repayment shall be made. Amount not repaid is debt due to Government (4) If a financial agent does not repay public money in accordance with this section, the amount that is not repaid is a debt due to the Government by the financial agent. Transfer (5) An amount repaid to the Referendum Commissioner under this section or section 19 or 20 shall be transferred as soon as possible to the Minister of Finance and Affordability to be paid into the Operating Fund. 2018,c.25,s.18; 2026,c.11,s.3. Misused public money or prohibited contributions (1) If a financial agent has reason to believe that public money was used for a purpose or in a manner contrary to section 17, or that a contribution was accepted contrary to section 16 or 17, the financial agent shall report to the Referendum Commissioner, within 15 days of becoming aware that the public money may have been misused or the contribution may have been improperly accepted, (a) the amount of public money that may have been misused or the contribution that may have been improperly accepted; (b) the reason the financial agent believes that the public money may have been misused or the contribution improperly accepted; (c) if known, the person who may have been responsible for the doing so; (d) whether the public money that may have been misused has been repaid to the financial agent or the contribution that may have been wrongly accepted has been repaid or returned to the contributor, as the case may be; and (e) any other information the Referendum Commissioner requires. Report required (2) If the Referendum Commissioner has reason to believe that public money was used for a purpose or in a manner contrary to section 17, or that a contribution was accepted contrary to section 16 or 17, the Referendum Commissioner may require a financial agent to provide to the Referendum Commissioner, within the time stated by the Referendum Commissioner, the information required by the Referendum Commissioner. Repayment required (3) If the Referendum Commissioner has reason to believe that public money was, or was likely, misused by a member, the Referendum Commissioner may require the financial agent to repay to the Referendum Commissioner all or part of the amount that was misused. Repayment or return required (4) If the Referendum Commissioner has reason to believe that a contribution was, or was likely, improperly accepted by a member, the Referendum Commissioner may require the financial Page 16 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act REFERENDUM ADVERTISERS agent to repay or return, if practicable, all or part of the contribution to the person who made the contribution. Notice of requirement to repay or return (5) For the purposes of subsection (3) or (4), (a) the Referendum Commissioner may require the repayment or return by delivering to the financial agent a notice setting out (i) the amount owed or the contribution to be returned, (ii) the time in which the amount shall be repaid or contribution returned, (iii) the reason for the repayment or return, and (iv) the manner in which the repayment or return shall be made; (b) the financial agent shall repay the amount or return the contribution as required in the notice; and (c) if the notice concerns the repayment of public money, the amount that is not repaid is a debt due to the Government by the financial agent if (i) the Referendum Commissioner has reason to believe that the financial agent knew or ought to have known at the time of disbursing the public money that the public money would be, or would likely be, misused, (ii) the Referendum Commissioner includes in the notice the reasons for the belief in subclause (i), and (iii) the financial agent does not repay the public money in accordance with this subsection. 2018,c.25,s.19. Reconsideration of notice (1) A financial agent who receives a notice under section 18 or 19 may request the Referendum Commissioner to reconsider the notice by submitting to the Referendum Commissioner (a) a written request for reconsideration in the form required by the Referendum Commissioner; and (b) the reasons why the Referendum Commissioner should reconsider (i) the issuance of the notice, (ii) the amount set out in the notice, or (iii) the time for repayment or return set out in the notice. Decision (2) After considering a request for reconsideration, the Referendum Commissioner may confirm, rescind or vary the notice. Written reasons (3) The Referendum Commissioner shall provide written reasons for a decision to confirm or vary the notice. Result (4) Following a decision made under subsection (2), (a) if the notice is confirmed or varied, the financial agent shall repay the public money or return the contribution in accordance with the decision and, for this purpose, subsection 18(4) or 19(5), if applicable, applies; and (b) no further request for reconsideration may be made. 2018,c.25,s.20. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 17 CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, CONDUCT OF VOTE Electoral System Referendum Act Rescission of appointment of financial agent (1) If the Referendum Commissioner (a) has reason to believe that a financial agent (i) is not eligible to be a financial agent, or (ii) has committed an offence under this Act; or (b) delivers to a financial agent a notice under section 18 or 19, the Referendum Commissioner may rescind the appointment of the financial agent by delivering to the financial agent a notice of rescission setting out the reason for the rescission and the date on which it is to take effect. Request for reconsideration (2) A financial agent who receives a notice of rescission may request the Referendum Commissioner to reconsider the notice by submitting to the Referendum Commissioner (a) a written request for reconsideration in the form required by the Referendum Commissioner; and (b) the reasons why the Referendum Commissioner should reconsider the rescission. Decision (3) After considering a request for reconsideration, the Referendum Commissioner may confirm, rescind or vary the notice. Written reasons (4) The Referendum Commissioner shall provide written reasons for a decision to confirm or vary the notice. Result (5) Following a decision made under subsection (3), (a) if the decision is to rescind a financial agent’s appointment, the appointment of the financial agent is rescinded on the date set by the Referendum Commissioner; and (b) no further request for reconsideration may be made. 2018,c.25,s.21. CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, CONDUCT OF VOTE Referendum vote to be conducted under Election Act (1) The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for the conduct of the referendum vote and the counting of the referendum votes, in accordance with the Election Act and this Act. Application of Election Act (2) The provisions of the Election Act, including, for greater certainty, any rules or directions made under that Act, apply, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary changes, to the referendum as if it were a poll held for the general election, unless the provision is excluded or modified, expressly or impliedly, by a provision in, or a direction made under, this Act, and, in particular, references in those sections (a) to ballots or ballot papers shall be construed as a reference to referendum ballots or referendum ballot papers; (b) to candidate shall be construed as a reference to response to the question; and (c) to election shall be construed as a reference to referendum. Page 18 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, CONDUCT Electoral System Referendum Act OF VOTE Provisions of this Act overrule (3) Subsection (2) is subject to the provisions of this Act. Adaptation for purposes of this Act (4) For the purpose of carrying into effect this section, or section 23 or 24, or in order to adapt this section, subsection 23(1) of this Act or the relevant provisions of the Election Act, including rules in and directions made under that Act, in respect of a particular circumstance related to the conduct of the referendum, the Chief Electoral Officer may issue a direction as he or she considers necessary or advisable in order to execute the intent of this Act and the Election Act. Notice--when (5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide notice of the direction in accordance with subsection (6) as soon as possible after the direction is made. Notice--how (6) The direction shall be published on the Elections PEI website on the Internet and provided to the Referendum Commissioner. Effect of section and direction (7) Any action taken or referendum vote held in accordance with this section or a direction made under this section is not invalid only by reason of any inconsistency with this Act or the Election Act. 2018,c.25,s.22. Conduct of referendum (1) The referendum is to be conducted in conjunction with the general election, in accordance with the Election Act and this Act. Responsibility of Chief Electoral Officer and election officers (2) The Chief Electoral Officer and other election officers responsible for the general election proceedings are also responsible for the referendum proceedings. Referendum voting to be on an electoral district basis (3) The referendum is to be conducted in all electoral districts in the province, with the voting conducted separately for each electoral district in conjunction with the election being held for the electoral district. How person may vote in the referendum (4) A person may vote in the referendum (a) at any voting opportunity at which the person is entitled to vote in the general election; or (b) by mail-in ballot voting in accordance with the Election Act, if the individual is entitled to vote this way in the general election. 2018,c.25,s.23. Ballots (1) The referendum ballots shall include the question set out in Schedule 1 to this Act and shall be printed in such a manner that, when completed and folded, they are distinguishable from the election ballots. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 19 GENERAL Electoral System Referendum Act Ballot boxes (2) The ballot boxes for the general election are to be used for both the general election and the referendum, with both the election ballots and the referendum ballots being deposited in the same ballot boxes. Poll book (3) The poll book for the general election is to be used for both the general election and the referendum. 2018,c.25,s.24. GENERAL Appropriation Costs related to the administration of this Act and the conduct of the referendum may be paid out of the Operating Fund. 2018,c.25,s.25. Offences (1) A person commits an offence who (a) fails to cooperate with the inquiries or to obey the requirements, notices or directions of the Referendum Commissioner; (b) incurs pre-referendum or referendum expenses contrary to subsection 8(1), (2), (3) or (4); (c) fails to identity himself, herself or itself in referendum advertising placed by him, her or it as required by subsection 8(5); (d) accepts or uses contributions contrary to subsection 16(1); (e) accepts money that is not public money contrary to subsection 17(3); (f) uses money that is not public money contrary to subsection 17(4); (g) uses or spends public money contrary to section 17; (h) spends, contrary to subsection 17(7), more than the amount of public money received pursuant to section 16; or (i) makes a false statement in a report filed under this Act. General offences and penalty (2) Subject to subsection (3), if applicable, a person who contravenes any provision of this Act is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $10,000. Exceeding maximum spending amount permitted for registered referendum advertisers (3) A person who, on behalf of a registered referendum advertiser, uses or spends an amount of money on referendum expenses in excess of the amount permitted by section 17 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine in the amount of not more than $10,000 plus the amount spent on referendum advertising in excess of the permitted amount.

Same offence for member of registered referendum advertiser (4) A member of a registered referendum advertiser commits the same offence as an offence committed by the registered referendum advertiser’s financial agent, if the financial agent commits the offence with the knowledge of the member. Page 20 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act GENERAL Personal liability of corporate officers for offence of corporation (5) Any officer, director or agent of a corporation who directs, authorizes, assents to, acquiesces in or participates in the commission of an offence under this Act by that corporation commits the same offence. Continuing offence (6) Where a contravention of or failure to comply with any provision of this Act or any requirement, notice or direction continues for more than one day, the person is guilty of a separate offence for each day that the contravention or failure to comply continues. 2018,c.25,s.26. Order for commencement of referendum period (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall, by order, establish the date on which the referendum period commences. Time limit (2) The date established by the order referred to in subsection (1) shall not be more than eight months prior to the date of the general election. Order may follow dissolution of Legislative Assembly (3) For greater certainty, nothing in this section affects the power of the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly by proclamation in Her Majesty's name when the Lieutenant Governor sees fit, as referred to in subsection 4.1(1) of the Election Act, but where that power has been exercised prior to the issuing of the order referred to in subsection (1), the order shall be issued as soon as practicable after the proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor is made. 2018,c.25,s.27. c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 21 SCHEDULE 1 Electoral System Referendum Act SCHEDULE 1 FORM OF QUESTION FOR REFERENDUM BALLOT PAPER Should Prince Edward Island change its voting system to a mixed member proportional voting system?  NO  YES 2018,c.25 Page 22 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c Electoral System Referendum Act SCHEDULE 2 SCHEDULE 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM The Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) System is a form of Proportional Representation (PR). In the proposed MMP system, a reduced number of Members of the Legislative Assembly would be elected in electoral districts to represent local constituents, while the remaining Members of the Legislative Assembly would be elected through a new province-wide Party List System. The MMP model recommended in the Report of the Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly on Democratic Renewal, dated April 15, 2016, would see a decrease in the number of PEI electoral districts from the current 27 to 18, as has been shown in the map provided in the Special Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission, dated March 13, 2018. Each of these 18 electoral districts would be represented by a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Nine additional Members of the Legislative Assembly would not represent an electoral district but would hold province-wide Party List seats. Voters would elect these nine Members of the Legislative Assembly from an ordered list of candidates provided by political parties. With MMP, there are two parts to the ballot that voters must fill out on election day. On the first part of the ballot, voters mark an ‘X’ indicating their preferred candidate for their local electoral district. On the second part of the ballot, voters mark an ‘X’ indicating their preferred candidate from the list for their preferred party. These votes on the second part of the ballot would be used to determine each party’s province-wide popular vote, and the number of votes each candidate on the party list receives will determine their ranking. List seats are allocated proportionally, based on the popular vote each party receives on the second part of the ballot. The system is designed so that the list seats become “top-up” or compensatory seats to accommodate for disproportionate results in the local district FPTP elections. Under MMP, voters would receive a two-part ballot: • Part one would list the candidates for that electoral district • Voters would cast a vote to elect a single MLA for their district, • Voters would mark an ‘X’ beside the candidate of their choice, • The candidate with the most votes would become the Member of the Legislative Assembly to represent the constituents of that electoral district; • Part two would list the candidates for province-wide Party List Seats as selected by political parties • Lists would be open - voters would cast a single vote for a province-wide Party List MLA, • Voters would mark an ‘X’ beside the candidate of their choice (they may vote for a candidate for the same party or a candidate for a different party as the district candidate they support), • The candidates who receive the most votes for the political party to receive additional “top up” seats would be selected. For example: If a political party has six candidates on its province-wide list and is entitled to receive three Party List seats, the three of c t Current to: May 29, 2026 Page 23 SCHEDULE 2 Electoral System Referendum Act the party’s candidates who receive the most votes are selected and become Members of the Legislative Assembly. Election law will, pursuant to the D’Hondt method1, determine the number of list seats each party is entitled to when the popular vote results (expressed as a percentage) would give a Party a fraction of a seat. 1 The D’Hondt method consists of an iterative process, where each party is given a number (N = V/s+ 1) where V is its total number of votes, and s is the number of seats it has already been allocated. At each stage, the party with the highest value of N is given a seat, and its value of s goes up by one. 2018,c.25 Page 24 Current to: May 29, 2026 t c