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Information on Voting
Voting is simple in Canada, however many are unfamiliar with the process. We have laid out what you need so that you can easily head to the polls and have your say. All the information here was brought together from the Elections BC Website : http://www.elections.bc.ca/
1 - To vote, you must be eligible. 2 - You must then register with Elections BC. They will tell send you a "Where to Vote" card when you are registered. 3 - Then, head to the appropriate polling station with the necessary documentation on General Voting Day. Travelling? You may still register and vote. Check out the Elections BC FAQ to learn more:
http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/aps/ovr/FAQs.htm#H
Voting Eligibility
To qualify as a provincial voter in B.C. you must be:
- a Canadian citizen;
- 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day for the election;
- a resident of the electoral district for which you are electing an MLA;
- a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before General Voting Day for the election;
and
registered as a voter for the electoral district or register as such in conjunction with voting
are not disqualified from voting.
You may be eligible to register to vote through the Elections BC Website. » http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/voting/
When you go to vote, make sure you have the correct identification that proves your identity and residential address.
Electoral Districts
There are 85 electoral districts in British Columbia. Which riding do you belong to? As per the Elections BC website, if you are a student you can choose to vote in the riding where you go to school, or in the the riding you usually live in when not in school.
http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/maps/
Registering to Vote
It is mandatory that you register to vote. You can register online through Elections BC Online Voter Registration system
https://eregister.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca/ovr/welcome.aspx
Necessary Identification
As stated on the Elections BC website, a voter must provide either:
Option 1
One document issued by the government of BC or Canada that contains the voter’s name, photograph and residential address, such as:
a B.C. driver’s licence,
a B.C. Identification Card (BCID), or
a B.C. Services Card
Option 2
A certificate of Indian status as issued by the government of Canada
Option 3
Two documents that together show the voter’s name and residential address. Both documents must show the voter’s name. At least one of the documents must show the voter’s residential address.
http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/voting/voter-identification/
What if I am working on Election Day?
As an eligible voter, you are entitled to 4 consecutive hours free from employment to go vote during voting hours (8 AM - 8 PM on General Voting Day). The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects your rights as an individual in a democratic society.
This does not necessarily mean four hours off work. Rather, it means there must be a period of four hours of no work during the 8 AM - 8 PM window.
To learn more: http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/voting/#timeoff