On Saturday, I volunteered as an 
observer at one of the advance election polls. I watched hundreds of people wait in line to cast their ballot, and it was pretty great to see so many people getting out to vote. However, a few concerning things came up, and I’ve since learned that concerning things came up at polls across the country. From hours long waits to improper questioning by elections officials, things were rocky in quite a few polling stations across Canada–even the BCCLA’s own Executive Director faced difficulties!
It’s important that we all know our rights when it comes to voting, and what we can do if something goes wrong.
The so-called Fair Elections Act passed by the Conservatives last year changed many of the rules about what you need in order to vote. Here are a few things to remember:]
You DO NOT need photo ID to vote.
Some voters were told that they did – this is INCORRECT. If you present two pieces of ID, one of which contains your address, you are good to go. Neither one needs to include your picture. If you’re told you need photo ID on Election Day, ask to speak to the poll supervisor to clear up the confusion.
If you DO have a driver’s license or other government issued ID with your name, address, and photo on it, THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO VOTE.
At my polling station, I observed the Returning Officer ask someone for a second piece of ID after they had presented their driver’s license. This is wrong, and when I pointed out the error to her, she stopped doing it. But I know it’s happened to others too, and I’m worried that some voters will not come with a second piece of ID on Election Day and will be denied the right to vote. I registered my concern with Elections Canada (here’s a link where you can make a complaint if something goes wrong for you or you see something go wrong for someone else), and asked for additional information to be sent to the people who will be working the polls on Election Day. After significant cuts to its budget two years ago, Elections Canada has been struggling to fulfill its mandate and maintain the integrity of the vote. Returning Officers desperately need the right information and support to do their jobs properly and in accordance with the law. My observations and other reports suggest they’re not getting it.
These include a library card, student ID card, a bill or bank statement, a label on a prescription container, a government cheque or cheque stub, and many other options. And it doesn’t even have to be the paper copy; an e-statement or invoice works too. For the full list of acceptable documentation, click here. Just make sure at least one piece has your address on it.
If you don’t have anything with your current address on it, don’t despair!
Although the so-called Fair Elections Act eliminated vouching for identification purposes (which we think is terrible), it maintained (after much criticism and advocacy) a version of vouching for address. It’s called an Attestation of Residence. If you don’t have anything with your current address on it, someone can “vouch” for where you live as long as they:
- Live in the same polling division as you
- Have proof of their own identity and residence
- Haven’t vouched for anyone else or been vouched for themselves.
While this is not an easy list to meet, a roommate, family member, or neighbour may be able to help – don’t be afraid to ask!
Additionally, Elections Canada has produced a Letter of Confirmation of Residence which can be used by voters who are 1) members of a First Nation band but don’t have a street address on their ID, such as those who live on reserve or 2) those who receive services from a shelter or soup kitchen, or live in a student residence or long-term care facility. Here’s the link to the letter: http://www.elections.ca/id/EC50053_e.pdf – get it signed by the administrator of the facility where you live and bring it, plus a second piece of ID with your name on it to the polls, and you’re set!
Your Voter Identification Card (VIC) has no legal status, but you might want to bring it anyway.
This summer, the BCCLA intervened in a case brought by the Council of Canadians and Canadian Federation of Students challenging the Fair Elections Act. We were hoping to get an injunction to allow people to rely on their VIC as one of their pieces of ID, but were unsuccessful. So your VIC won’t count as ID on Election Day, but from what I observed at the polls this weekend, it made it a bit faster and easier for people to identify which line-up to join. So bring it if you’ve got it.
Your sex, gender expression and the sex indicator on your ID and voter registration documents do not affect your right to vote.
Check out this great resource from EGALE for more information for trans voters.
Check your ballot!
Dirty ballots – meaning they already had marks on them when they were given to the voter – were observed in a number of ridings over the weekend. I saw one voter return his ballot because it had a faint line through one of the circles where the voter is supposed to make their mark. I don’t know if this would have been enough to spoil the ballot, but it might have. Check your ballot, and if there’s any kind of weirdness to it, return it and ask for a new one.
You do not have to pre-register in order to vote.
While you will save yourself time if you’re already registered, you CAN register to vote at the polling station on Election Day. Just bring the identification you’ll need (described above) and ask to register. No big deal.
The right to vote is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Knowing our rights is the best first step towards defending them.
Election Shenanigans
On Saturday, I volunteered as an
observer at one of the advance election polls. I watched hundreds of people wait in line to cast their ballot, and it was pretty great to see so many people getting out to vote. However, a few concerning things came up, and I’ve since learned that concerning things came up at polls across the country. From hours long waits to improper questioning by elections officials, things were rocky in quite a few polling stations across Canada–even the BCCLA’s own Executive Director faced difficulties!
It’s important that we all know our rights when it comes to voting, and what we can do if something goes wrong.
The so-called Fair Elections Act passed by the Conservatives last year changed many of the rules about what you need in order to vote. Here are a few things to remember:]
You DO NOT need photo ID to vote.
Some voters were told that they did – this is INCORRECT. If you present two pieces of ID, one of which contains your address, you are good to go. Neither one needs to include your picture. If you’re told you need photo ID on Election Day, ask to speak to the poll supervisor to clear up the confusion.
If you DO have a driver’s license or other government issued ID with your name, address, and photo on it, THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO VOTE.
At my polling station, I observed the Returning Officer ask someone for a second piece of ID after they had presented their driver’s license. This is wrong, and when I pointed out the error to her, she stopped doing it. But I know it’s happened to others too, and I’m worried that some voters will not come with a second piece of ID on Election Day and will be denied the right to vote. I registered my concern with Elections Canada (here’s a link where you can make a complaint if something goes wrong for you or you see something go wrong for someone else), and asked for additional information to be sent to the people who will be working the polls on Election Day. After significant cuts to its budget two years ago, Elections Canada has been struggling to fulfill its mandate and maintain the integrity of the vote. Returning Officers desperately need the right information and support to do their jobs properly and in accordance with the law. My observations and other reports suggest they’re not getting it.
There are all sorts of documents you can use as identification on voting day.
These include a library card, student ID card, a bill or bank statement, a label on a prescription container, a government cheque or cheque stub, and many other options. And it doesn’t even have to be the paper copy; an e-statement or invoice works too. For the full list of acceptable documentation, click here. Just make sure at least one piece has your address on it.
If you don’t have anything with your current address on it, don’t despair!
Although the so-called Fair Elections Act eliminated vouching for identification purposes (which we think is terrible), it maintained (after much criticism and advocacy) a version of vouching for address. It’s called an Attestation of Residence. If you don’t have anything with your current address on it, someone can “vouch” for where you live as long as they:
While this is not an easy list to meet, a roommate, family member, or neighbour may be able to help – don’t be afraid to ask!
Additionally, Elections Canada has produced a Letter of Confirmation of Residence which can be used by voters who are 1) members of a First Nation band but don’t have a street address on their ID, such as those who live on reserve or 2) those who receive services from a shelter or soup kitchen, or live in a student residence or long-term care facility. Here’s the link to the letter: http://www.elections.ca/id/EC50053_e.pdf – get it signed by the administrator of the facility where you live and bring it, plus a second piece of ID with your name on it to the polls, and you’re set!
Your Voter Identification Card (VIC) has no legal status, but you might want to bring it anyway.
This summer, the BCCLA intervened in a case brought by the Council of Canadians and Canadian Federation of Students challenging the Fair Elections Act. We were hoping to get an injunction to allow people to rely on their VIC as one of their pieces of ID, but were unsuccessful. So your VIC won’t count as ID on Election Day, but from what I observed at the polls this weekend, it made it a bit faster and easier for people to identify which line-up to join. So bring it if you’ve got it.
Your sex, gender expression and the sex indicator on your ID and voter registration documents do not affect your right to vote.
Check out this great resource from EGALE for more information for trans voters.
Check your ballot!
Dirty ballots – meaning they already had marks on them when they were given to the voter – were observed in a number of ridings over the weekend. I saw one voter return his ballot because it had a faint line through one of the circles where the voter is supposed to make their mark. I don’t know if this would have been enough to spoil the ballot, but it might have. Check your ballot, and if there’s any kind of weirdness to it, return it and ask for a new one.
You do not have to pre-register in order to vote.
While you will save yourself time if you’re already registered, you CAN register to vote at the polling station on Election Day. Just bring the identification you’ll need (described above) and ask to register. No big deal.
The right to vote is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Knowing our rights is the best first step towards defending them.
CIVIL LIBERTIES CAN’T PROTECT THEMSELVES