For immediate release

Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations (Vancouver) — The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), and Prisoners’ Legal Services have sent a joint letter calling on the Province of British Columbia to take urgent, coordinated action to ensure eligible electors held in provincial correctional centres can vote in BC’s October 17, 2026 general local elections.

The organizations are asking the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to provide province-wide guidance, operational support from BC Corrections, and coordination with local governments and Chief Election Officers. They are also calling for legislative or regulatory reform if the current system cannot reliably provide meaningful voting access.

The joint letter follows earlier correspondence sent to 11 local governments that host or are near provincial correctional centres, as well as to their 11 Chief Election Officers. Those letters encouraged local election officials to use their existing legal powers and resources—including special voting opportunities and mail-ballot procedures—to make voting accessible to electors in custody.

Meaningful voting access is an important part of making sure that public systems don’t perpetuate systemic racism. Indigenous and Black people are significantly overrepresented in correctional custody in British Columbia. When election and correctional systems fail to address the predictable barriers to voting faced by people in custody, the resulting exclusion impacts communities already experiencing systemic discrimination.

Meghan McDermott, BCCLA Policy Director says:

“Democracy is weakened when the law recognizes a person as an elector, but government systems make that right practically impossible to exercise. The Province must ensure eligible voters in custody can obtain information, establish their eligibility, and cast a private and valid ballot. Consistent provincial leadership is necessary to protect equality, democratic participation and respect for the rule of law.”

Nicole Kief, Executive Director for Prisoners’ Legal Services says:

“People in custody cannot independently navigate numerous local election systems, deadlines and ballot procedures. BC Corrections must work directly with election officials to provide registration assistance, mail or special-ballot support, secure ballot-return procedures and protections for ballot secrecy. Incarceration should not create an insurmountable administrative barrier for people who remain legally entitled to vote.”

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