Elections Canada might crack down on people tweeting results on election night before polls close across the country, but only if the organization receives complaints.
A spokesperson with Elections Canada says it does not monitor social networking sites, but will investigate online posts if it receives complaints.
Regular tweeters, like university student Brittany Thiessen, think this could have an impact on the election.
Thiessen is organizing the Vote Mob at the University of Winnipeg and says she sends out a dozen tweets a day on the election.
She feels restrictions on social media use could discourage young people from voting.
"I think it could turn people away," says Thiessen.
Social media experts think cracking down would be an outdated and unrealistic move by Elections Canada.
"Imagine a hundred thousand Canadians posting something on Twitter. Are we going to take them all through the courts?" says Dan Belhassen of Modern Earth Web Design. "It just doesn't make any sense."
Thiessen says she'll still be using Twitter on May 2 to keep herself current.
Under the Elections Act, anyone caught posting votes results before polls close could face a $25,000 fine or up to five years in jail. According to Elections Canada, the act's aim is to prevent people in western Canada from voting based on the results from eastern Canada where the polls close sooner.
- with a report from CTV's Nancy Carlson
