Home Action! Archives Info Media Site Map

VOTING BASICS 101 How It All Works Return to Main Menu How to Register to Vote Who Is Eligible to Vote? Can a Person Who Is Homeless Vote? What Happens on Voting Day? Why Should I Vote? How Do I Decide Who to Vote For? ELECTION DAY IS MAY 17, 2005 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Every Vote Counts!  Value Your Vote! How to Register to Vote In the upcoming provincial election you can register when you go to vote or before voting day at your local BC Elections office or by visiting your local Women’s Centre.  You can also register online right now by going to the Elections BC website or by clicking directly on this link. [links will open in a new window] Who Is Eligible to Vote? Canadian citizen 18 years old or older on polling day Can a Person Who is Homeless Vote? YES.     An elector who is homeless or without a fixed address can vote, if she/he registers on the voters list during an election.  To register you need identification such as driver’s license, birth certificate, health care card, Status card,  B.C. ID and the address where you are staying. The address of the local shelter will be accepted if you stayed there sometime in the last 24 hours. Without proof of address or identification you can still register on Election Day by taking a prescribed oath as long as another voter who is registered can vouch for you. As long as you can describe in detail where you are staying, a house, in a shelter or on the street etc, the prescribed oath is enough What Happens on Voting Day? The place you go to vote is called a polling station, there usually are more than one in each community The polling stations will be listed in the local newspaper (or call Elections BC for your nearest polling station) 1-800 661-8683.  If you are registered to vote you will need to take your voter registration card, if not your ID and proof of address The polls are open from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm You are entitled to 4 clear hours away from your job to vote – it’s the law Once at the polling station, there usually is a line up, the first thing you do is “check in” Your name will be checked on the voter’s list and you will be given a “ballot” A ballot is the paper you will mark your vote on, usually with a pencil provided You will mark your ballot at a table that is screened off from view, this way your vote is private Do not make any other marks on the ballot other than your voting mark, this will “spoil” your ballot and it will not count Lastly, your ballot is then taken and put in the ballot box, sometimes it is electronically counted by a machine first Congratulations you have successfully voted! Why Should I Vote? The provincial government makes decisions everyday that affect your life It is your right to vote It is your chance to have your voice heard Because we do not want to leave it to others to decide who our representatives are Every vote makes a difference in who gets elected This is the one time that whether you are rich or poor – every vote has the same weight Voting is participating in democracy Voting is one way to hold governments accountable Because British Columbians before us fought for the right to vote EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!! How Do I Decide Who to Vote For? A person who is running to be elected is called a Candidate Most Candidates are members of a Political Party.  New Democrats (NDP) are one example of a Political Party in BC Read the local newspaper Attend All Candidates Meetings Call a Candidate and ask them questions Talk with your friends and neighbors Visit your Library and read about the different Political Parties ELECTION DAY IS MAY 17, 2005 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Every Vote Counts!  Value Your Vote! Return to Main Menu

If you have questions/comments for BCCWC, please e-mail us at bcwomen@telus.net  For other contact information, please go to our Information Page

BC Coalition of Women's Centres • British Columbia, Canada
100 Mile House • Campbell River • Chetwynd • Comox Valley • Cranbrook • Fernie • Fort Nelson • Fort St. John • Golden • Grand Forks • Howe Sound • Kamloops • Kelowna • Kitimat • North Shore • Penticton • Port Coquitlam • Queen Charlotte Islands • Quesnel • Richmond • Ridge Meadows • Sunshine Coast • South Surrey/White Rock • Surrey • Terrace •  Vancouver • Vernon • Westcoast • West Kootenay • Williams Lake