Will you be allowed to vote on October 19?

By Jim Gerwing

Last month I wrote about the new rules on who will be allowed to cast a ballot for this coming federal election. Until now all you needed was to be on the voters list and show up with your voter card which you received by mail. Not any more.
Those who have an approved government issued card which has your photo and your address will have no problem. A driver's licence is such a document, as is a provincial or territorial ID card, or any other government card with your photo, your name and your current address, but a passport, for example, is not because it does not have your address.

If you do not have one of the approved cards, you will need two pieces of ID one of which must have your current address. Elections Canada has a long list of such documents. If you can produce two documents with your name but not your current address, you will need a registered voter in the same polling district who can attest to your address. That registered voter can attest to only one person. If you do not have a computer to find these lists, you can drop in to your favourite party headquarters and get that information. Or wait until the next issue of the Beacon when I hope to publish the complete lists.

The following are some of the people who will have some extra work to do to ensure they will be allowed to vote: students, First Nations, homeless people, people who have just moved or are looking for work in a new location and have no fixed address yet. It is not impossible to fulfill the requirements, but you need to make the effort or you will be turned away from the polling station.

Here is some practical advice: make certain that you are registered to vote. Elections.ca is a website that you can use to register on line. No computer? You can call 1-866-723-1359. Or you can wait until the official advanced polls take place beginning ten days (yes, during Thanksgiving weekend!) before the official voting date. Again, if you have a problem, you will find out what you need to do in time to vote.

I have contacted Elections Canada with questions about using expired driver's licences or passports. In both cases, the answer is Yes, you can use expired documents.