City Offers a Variety of Ways for Voters to Cast Their Ballot in Civic Election
October 24, 2008
The City of Richmond is offering a number of ways to ensure all eligible voters are able to cast their ballot in the upcoming civic elections, and ensuring voters know about them by publishing the 2008 Voters Guide in several languages.
General local and school election day is Saturday, November 15, 2008, for the mayor and eight council seats, as well as seven school trustee positions, each for a three-year term. Voting places throughout the City are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The eight-page Voters Guide provides information on dates and times, voters registration procedures, voting places, ballots, and the type of assistance provided by the Richmond Elections Office. The English version of the guide is being mailed to all Richmond households during the coming week, while versions in English, French, Chinese and Punjabi are available on the municipal website, as well as from City Hall.
Eligible voters can register on voting day, if they haven’t already registered, with two pieces of appropriate identification showing identity and place of residence, one of which must have a signature. If you’re not sure you are registered, you can check online at the City’s website, richmond.ca >Elections 2008.
To be eligible to vote in the Richmond civic election, you must be a Canadian citizen, a BC resident for the past six months, a Richmond resident for the past 30 days, 18 years or older and not disqualified by law. Individuals who own property in Richmond but reside in another BC city may vote in Richmond as a non-resident property elector. But an individual, not a corporation, must own the property and there is only one vote per property. In other words, if joint ownership of a property exists, only one property owner may cast a ballot, provided he or she has the written consent of a majority of the property owners and meets the Canadian citizenship, BC residency, age and other requirements. Proof of property ownership must be provided at the time of voting.
Voting Assistance
Those with physical disabilities or illness may find it easier to vote by mail ballot or by curbside voting. Mail ballots are available to voters with a physical disability, illness or injury that affects their ability to vote by other means, or to those who expect to be absent from the city on general voting day and at the times of all advance voting opportunities. Those qualified to vote by mail ballot must apply to the Chief Election Officer weekdays until Friday, November 14 at City Hall during regular operating hours. Mail ballots are also available on election day, November 15, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only. Call the Election Office at 604-276-4100 to make arrangements to vote using a mail ballot.
Curbside voting is available for those who can drive to their polling station, but are physically unable to enter the voting place. Once you arrive at the voting place, you will need someone to advise the presiding election official that you need this type of assistance.
You may bring a translator to assist you in the voting place, if you have difficulty reading or writing English. The translator must sign a solemn declaration of assistance at your voting place to provide the assistance.
Mobile Polls
Residents of care facilities, who are not able to attend a voting place on voting day, will still be able to vote. The mobile poll will visit Minoru Residence, Gilmore Gardens, Courtyard Gardens, Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge, Richmond Lions Manor, Rosewood Manor and Pinegrove Place. Only residents of the facilities will be able to vote at the mobile polls.
Advance Polls
As well, if you expect to be out of town on general local and school election day, take advantage of the advance polls, open to all qualified voters. Advance voting is scheduled for November 5, 6, 8, 12 and 13, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at City Hall, (6911 No. 3 Road).
For general election day, voters can find their polling station by entering their address on the city website (Elections 2008>Voter Information>Where do I vote). In addition, all registered electors will receive a voting place card in the mail in the weeks prior to the election, which will indicate the location of their assigned voting place. There are 125,000 voters on the registration list.
All this information and more can be found in the City’s Voters Guide and on the City’s website at richmond.ca>Elections 2008, or call the Election Office at 604-276-4100.
