Elections BC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2009

VICTORIA – British Columbians have two reasons to vote on May 12. 

Voters will receive two ballots: one to elect a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and one for the referendum on electoral reform.  

In this referendum, voters will be asked to choose one of two electoral systems: the current First-Past-the-Post electoral system, or the Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV) electoral system. 

The election period began Tuesday with the dissolution of the Legislature and the issuing of 85 Writs of Election, to be distributed to the 85 District Electoral Officers across the province. 

Voters have more opportunities to vote than ever before.  They can vote on General Voting Day, Tuesday, May 12, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), or on any of the advance voting days May 6 through May 9 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (local time). 

If voters expect to be away in May, they can vote in one of the province’s 90 district electoral offices on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or they can vote by mail. 

Voter registration closes on April 21.  Until then, Election BC’s Online Voter Registration system at www.elections.bc.ca remains open 24 hours a day and until midnight on April 21, and Election BC’s toll-free call centre is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific time).  Voters may also register in person at any of the 59 Service BC Centres across the province. 

Voters who are registered by April 21 will receive a yellow Where to Vote card in the mail at the beginning of May, listing their assigned voting place, advance voting locations, and their electoral district. 

All voters are required to prove their identity and residential address. Any one of a B.C. Driver’s License, B.C. Identification Card or Certificate of Indian Status is acceptable. Otherwise, two pieces of ID must be shown, at least one of which shows the voter’s residential address. 

Information on these and many more details about the May 2009 General Election and Referendum on Electoral Reform is available on the Elections BC website, Election BC’s  Facebook page, or by calling toll-free 1-800-661-8683.  Look for more information in your local newspaper, on radio and TV, and in a ‘Get ready to vote’ brochure that will be delivered to every residential address in B.C. at the end of April. 

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Contact:
Kenn Faris
Manager, Event Communications
Phone: 250-387-2949
Email: Kenn.Faris@elections.bc.ca 

Attachment:

Click on image for high resolution file

Photo cutline:
B.C.’s Chief Electoral Officer Harry Neufeld prepares to send 85 Writs of Election to electoral districts across the province as the election begins.  The writs instruct District Electoral Officers to “cause election to be made, according to law, of a member to serve in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.”  The writs were signed by B.C. Lieutenant Governor Steven Point, Attorney General Wally Oppal, and by Neufeld.