Monday, October 22 ~ BC. Today is the first day of the voting period for the 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform, and Elections BC has started to mail voting packages to registered voters.
“We expect the Interior, Northern BC, Richmond, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island north of the Malahat to receive their voting packages this week,” says Anton Boegman, Chief Electoral Officer.
“Greater Victoria and the rest of the Lower Mainland should receive their packages next week, and we expect package delivery to be complete by November 2.”
Estimated delivery completion dates by community are available on the Elections BC website at elections.bc.ca/referendum/about-the-referendum/voting-package-provincial-delivery/.
The start of the referendum mailing is the result of months of planning and preparation by Elections BC. Over the next two weeks, over 3.3 million voting packages will be distributed to registered voters in every corner of the province, from Atlin in northern B.C. to Metchosin on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and all points in between. Packages are also being sent internationally to registered voters temporarily away from their homes in B.C., to locations as diverse as Korea, Kuwait and Zambia.
Elections BC encourages voters to get informed and vote in the referendum. Neutral information about the voting systems, short videos and a voter’s guide are available at elections.bc.ca/referendum.
- VIDEO: 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB76TKn-xyA - Voting Package Production Images and Video
https://elections.bc.ca/referendum/about-the-referendum/referendum-resources/referendum-graphics/
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has announced rotating strikes, including one in Victoria on October 22 for a 24 hour period. Rotating strikes have not impacted the delivery schedule for referendum voting packages at this time. The referendum voting period is October 22 to November 30 and this has not changed as a result of the rotating strikes.
Elections BC is monitoring the situation closely, and the Chief Electoral Officer has the authority to extend the voting period for the referendum if necessary, should job action at Canada Post materially impact the referendum process. Any changes will be communicated with the public.
To vote in the referendum, an individual must be:
- a Canadian citizen,
- 18 or older as of November 30, 2018, and
- a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before November 30, 2018
All registered voters in British Columbia will receive a referendum voting package in the mail. Eligible voters that do not receive a voting package by November 2 should contact Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683, or go online to elections.bc.ca/ovr to request a package.
Each referendum voting package is personally addressed to a registered voter, and voters may only use the package that is addressed to them. The package includes a ballot and instructions on how to complete the package and return it to Elections BC.
Voters have until November 30, 2018 to return their voting package to Elections BC. Elections BC must receive completed voting packages by 4:30 p.m. on this date (a postmark is not acceptable). Voters are encouraged to return their package early to ensure it is received by the deadline.
Voters can return their completed voting package by mail using the postage paid return envelope included in their package. They can also return their package to any Service BC Centre or Referendum Service Office starting November 5. Office locations will be available at elections.bc.ca/rso.
For more information, visit elections.bc.ca/referendum, or call 1-800-661-8683 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
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