According to the EC website, in order to vote I simply need to provide my government issued photo ID. Off I go to my local voting station, license in tow. I register to vote, as I’m new to the city and was not on “the list”. Once registered I’m on my way to my booth to do my part for Canada. They again ask for my ID. Sure, here ya go. It would seem that: a) the website is incorrect, you do infact need TWO pieces of ID, and b) because I’m new to Halifax I’m SOL, my friends. Because I have no proof of address (I JUST moved, I have NOTHING with my address on it) they will not let me vote. I was able to provide the required piece of photo ID. Yet I, a tax paying Canadian citizen, was denied my right to vote because I was required to relocate. I have lived in Nova Scotia for 25 of my 28 years, I have not resided outside of Canada. And yet still I was denied my right to vote in this year’s election.
They say they want more young Canadians to vote? Well, this is a lovely way to encourage them to do so. Sure, encourage them, draw them in, then yank that right out from under them.
Nicely done, Elections Canada, nicely done.
This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2008.
Unless you were in a submarine or in prison then you had plenty of time to prepare for this. You can register in many different ways, or gone and found someone to swear on your behalf, there were plenty of options and plenty of time to follow through with it. I would rather have some ill-prepared citizen be denied the vote because of improper course than have someone abuse the process through lax voting requirements.Also remember, being a taxpayer does not make you a citizen. Being a taxpayer means shit, really, on the bureaucratical scheme of things.And besides, if you can’t get it together to register and have proper documentation ready to cast a ballot, then should you really be trusted to make a sensical choice?
I don’t see how allowing a card carrying Canadian citizen the right to vote is an injustice to the electorial process. Infact, I think it is a disgrace the amount of CANADIANS who were denied the right to vote today. 60% of students who showed up to vote today at Dal WERE TURNED AWAY. If that isn’t a miscarriage of “democracy” than I do not know what is.
OPR, I was with you all the way until you said “sensical choice”
Sorry Floyd, “sensical” is a great word, irregardless of what you might think about it. I have to say though, I hate that NDP can get more votes but less seats than the Bloc Quebecois! Who the fuck is the Bloc Quebecois, and who the fuck cares?! They have nothing to do with me.Single platform parties are useless and only serve to destabilise opposition parties netting the the horrible Harper government a greater majority. DOWN with the GREENS and BLOC QUEBECOIS!
um…the Greens have a lot more going on than the Bloc…they are SO not a single platform party, and if we actually had a voting system that accuratly reflected the views and votes cast by each individual canadian (cough cough proportional representiation cough cough) then you’d see that a lot more than ageing enviro-hippies and hemp wearing lilac scented earth mothers are green supporters…
A vote for Green Party is a proxy vote for the Conservatives. We need more strategic voters, especially when it is a near certainty that the foul Conservatives will enter into executive office. Its imperative that we ensure they don’t recieve a majority (or at least a strong minority). Forgive me for being suspicious, but Harper called this phoney baloney election because he has an agenda and he is about to do something scandalous which he: a) needs to see through, and b) needs more Conservative members to achieve.
I am on the fence on whether a Vote for the Green Party is a proxy for the Conservatives. I like the fact we have a government where the NDP has so much power, I.E. where if the Conservatives are voting one way, the Liberals and Bloc the other, The NDP would have the deciding vote. Its not a two party system that makes the proxy vote concept such a big deal.That being said, I don’t think the Green Party wields the same type of power the NDP or Bloc would, however, If its not getting the seats needed to give the power to the Liberals, it helps to communicate the message that citizens are concerned with the environment and hopefully the government will take that in considerations when trying to win voters by decision.I really wish it was harder to vote out the incumbent. The past couple of elections the non-confidence vote seems to be used as a politcal tool. Its place should be to call out a government that is seriously mishandling affairs. I like our multiple party system as it keeps different views in check, I don’t like the money that could be going to more important things being wasted on elections that benefit only the parties.
I vote for the Green Party now because they receive federal funding based on the number of votes received. They got more than double the amount of votes this time, and hopefully will continue to grow as a party because they are actually getting federal funding and can widen their reach. I knew that in my riding it wasn’t going to change much, the NDP still won, but it makes a huge difference to the GP.
Yeah, OK…being a tax payer may mean squat. However, I’ve NEVER had to register to vote before. I’ve always just shown up and done my thing. And yes, I do realize the rules of play changed this year. I get that. However, everything I read and/or heard said to bring your driver’s license. As I said, I just moved, I don’t have people at my disposal to just come and vouch for me. And it wasn’t just me who had these issues. I know of other people, in other parts of the province, who had the same thing happen- and they had their voter card and ID…..and still were told they couldn’t vote. This really shouldn’t be that diffcult.Good to know Elections Canada has their shit together.
I did not vote because I do not like any of the choices. In my opinion, they are all lying, cheating, stealing, and misrepresenting politicians. I think hey are all corrupt politicians just in it for the money. All the choices are bad. I was going to spoil the vote but what is the point of that is just like not voting. I was like half of the Canadians that did not exercise their right to vote. A very low voter turn out this election.After the fact I found out that there is a way to have your vote counted and not vote for anyone. Go to your polling station, register with them and when given your ballet hand it back to them saying “I wish to return my ballot.”. This will count as a ‘No Vote’ and the vote will still be counted. Oh well there is always next election. I just wish this option was more known to the public.
If your license has the same address as your voter’s card then there should not be a problem. If it isn’t then you need to have not only that but something with your redicency corresponding with the registration.That’s not hard.Oh, and the Liberals shot themselves in the foot. Harper sensed weakness so he capatilised. Sucks to be Deion since he couldn’t get his game togeather. Nobody wants a party opposition that is a yesman fuck that shit, hence the Liberals LOST seats. Serves them right.
Asriel… you can’t wait until the last minute and expect the Government to bend over because you decided to vote. You have to think ahead and register and find out what to do in your particular case BEFORE you are waiting in line at the polling station. If you care about voting, then take the time to make it easier on yourself. You can still make sure to vote in the civic election, though…plenty of time to prepare.I never like who is running. I don’t like the voting system. Nor do I like our legislative system (stupid bicameral legislative system – partisan senators living out their coddled lives in soft government chairs). Vote for someone because it ensures that we make it clear what we DON’T want – autocracy, fascism, oligarchism or other dictatorial and authoritarian forms of government.
Don’t blame Elections Canada for this.You can thank the governing party that amended the Elections Act to require photo ID with address. You guessed, it, HarperCorp.And just think about who got disenfranchised. Elderly people who don’t drive. Poor people who can’t afford the ~$20 (?) the government wants for a “Nova Scotia ID”. Students from away who can’t be bothered/afford to change their license address for the few months they’re in school.You know, people who aren’t inclined to vote for…well, you get the idea…
And before anyone flames me, excuse the typo(s).