You know what you have to do.
It involves marking an 'X' in a box next to a name. Some call it democracy in progress, others call it exercising their Charter rights as citizens, while a few cynics call it a waste of time and ink.
Consider it one of the mainstays of your duty as a good citizen of B.C., so when the polls open in Rossland on Tuesday, May 14, for the B.C. General Election head down to the Rossland Legion on Washington Street and cast your vote.
This year there are two independent candidates on the bill—Joseph Hughes and Glen Byle—as well as incumbent candidate Katrine Conroy of the NDP, and Jim Postnikoff of the B.C. Liberals.
Check out what they have to say about Rossland, their views on what is important in the Kootenay West riding region, as well as what they bring to the table as a wanna-be member of the Legislative Assembly of B.C.
The polling action heats up at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, with the results pouring in from Kootenay West and across the province at 8 p.m. when the polls close and the evening descends—and a new government is formed.
People are asked to bring their yellow 'Where to Vote' cards—that were mailed out to registered voters—in to the polling station when they vote.
All voters must prove their identity and residential address to get a ballot or to register when voting.
Get your vote on for Kootenay West
- Advance polls - May 9-11, Waneta Plaza, Trail
- General voting - May 14, Rossland Legion, Washington Street
Voting requirements
In order to vote in an election for an electoral district, an individual must:
- be a Canadian citizen;
- be 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the election;
- be a resident of the electoral district;
- have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before general voting day for the election;
- be registered as a voter for the electoral district or register as such in conjunction with voting; and
- not be disqualified by the Election Act or any other enactment from voting in the election or be otherwise disqualified by law.
Voter identification
Under the Election Act, voters must prove their identity and residential address in order to receive a ballot or register to vote in conjunction with voting in a provincial general election or by-election.
Voters may present identification, or use a process known as vouching. Some acceptable types of identification and information on the vouching process are found below.
Option 1
A single document issued by the Government of B.C. or Canada that contains the voter’s name, photograph and residential address, such as a B.C. driver’s licence, B.C. Identification Card (BCID), or B.C. Services Card
Option 2
A Certificate of Indian Status as issued by the Government of Canada
Option 3
Two documents that together show the voter’s name and residential address. Both documents must show the voter’s name. At least one of the documents must also contain the voter’s residential address. Digital or electronic documents (e.g. e-bills) are acceptable.
Right to time off
Section 74 of the Election Act establishes that any employee who is entitled to vote is entitled to have four consecutive hours free from employment during voting hours on general voting day for the purpose of voting.
This does not necessarily mean four hours off from work. It means that there must be a four-hour period of no work during the time the voting places are open.
It is up to the employer to decide when their employees can take time off work to vote. It is an offence for an employer to take any deduction from an employee’s pay, or exact any other penalty, for time off for voting.