What Do You Need To Vote?

Well, it’s finally come to this. After more than a month of oration, sensation and prevarication accusations, at last it’s up to you. It’s your one chance to actually have a say in what happens in Ottawa over the next four years – unless, of course, we wind up going to the polls again before the next fixed election date.  

Here’s what you need to know to vote in Ontario.

When Can I Vote?

Everyone gets 12 hours to cast their ballot. And in a repeat of a still relatively new rule, there are mostly unified closing times across the country, so counting the votes can begin at roughly the same time. In the old days, those out west often knew who won before their polling stations even closed, leaving many feeling their ballots didn’t really count. The new rules mean that can’t happen anymore.

Ontario polls are open from 9:30am-9:30pm.

Who Can Vote?

Any Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older

Any Canadian who’s been living out of the county for less than five years in a row.

Soldiers serving overseas provided their ballots reach Ottawa by 6pm Tuesday.

The homeless can cast a ballot, too, if they’ve registered in advance. But to do that, they have to prove who they are and where they’re staying. Or they can have an elector vouch for them on Election Day. 

Even prisoners have the right to vote in a federal election.

What You Need To Vote

Your Voter Card

If you’re on the list of the election eligible, you should have received your card in the mail a few weeks ago. It features your name, your address and where your polling station is.

Your I.D.

They’ve tightened the rules a bit, so they can be sure you are who you say you are and that you actually live in the riding where you’re making your mark.

You’ll have to show the folks at the polling place one of the following to get a ballot:

One original piece of identification:

It can be issued by a government or government agency and must contain your name and address. Your driver’s licence will do. So will your health card. 

OR

Two pieces of I.D.:

Both have to have your name and at least one needs to also show your address.

Examples of what they’ll accept as I.D.:

• Health Card
• Social Insurance Number Card
• Birth Certificate
• Driver’s Licence
• Canadian Passport
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or Citizenship Card
• Credit/Debit Card with your name on it
• Veterans Affairs Canada Health Card
• Employee Card issued by employer
• Old Age Security Identification Card
• Public Transportation Card
• Student ID Card
• Library Card
• Hospital Card

Secondary Proof

• Credit Card Statement
• Bank Statement
• Utility Bill (residential telephone, cable TV, public utility bill like hydro, gas or water)
• Local Property Tax Assessment
• School, College or University Report Card or Transcript
• Residential Lease, Residential Mortgage Statement or Agreement
• Canada Child Tax Benefit Statement
• Income Tax Assessment Notice
• Insurance Policy
• Government Cheque or Government Cheque Stub with your name on it
• Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid 
• Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions
• Vehicle Ownership
• Vehicle Insurance

What If I Lost Or Didn’t Get My Voter Card?

According to Elections Canada, all is not lost even if your card is. You can still provide proper I.D. and there’s also a third option for qualifying for a ballot:

“You can be vouched for by an elector whose name appears on the list of electors in the same polling division and who has an acceptable piece or pieces of identification. Both will be required to make a sworn statement. An elector cannot vouch for more than one person, and the person who has been vouched for cannot vouch for another elector.”

How Do I Know Where To Vote?

It’s on your card. But if you didn’t get one, click here to find out where your polling place is. You’ll have to enter your postal code, hit search, and then click ‘where do I vote?’

How Much Time Do I Get To Vote?

Under the law, your employer has to allow you three consecutive hours to vote, without docking you any pay. But it only applies if for some reason you’re unable to find three consecutive working hours to reach the polls. So if, for example, you work 9am-5pm, you can’t leave early because the polls are open to 9:30pm and you can presumably reach them between 5pm and the time the ballot boxes close on Tuesday night if you live close enough.  

What If I Want To Protest?

You can. If you feel there’s no one to vote for but you want to let the government know, you can decline your ballot. This means you have to actually go to your local polling station, ask for the document, and then tell the people there you’re officially declining your ballot.

It’s different than not voting, because it shows that you took the time to go there and your non-vote is actually counted as declined – which sends a message that staying home can’t accomplish.

Can I Eat My Ballot?

This may be the strangest question on Elections Canada’s website, but it seems to come up every time there’s a federal vote, raised by those who think it will be a good – although not very tasty – way to protest their dissatisfaction with the process. The short answer is that it’s against the law to destroy your ballot, including ripping it up, defacing it or, yes, taking a big bite out of it.

For the longer answer and the reasons behind this bizarre rule, click here.

Try eating before you reach the voting booth so you won’t be tempted.

OK, I’ve Exercised My Franchise. How Do I Find Out Who Won?

Tune into CityVote ’08 on Citytv for the up-to-the-second results starting at 9pm and continuing until all the leaders give their victory or concession speeches. You can also check right here on CityNews.ca for constantly updated vote totals in your riding or any place in the country as soon as all the polls are closed.

By The Numbers

Seats: 308

Needed For A Majority: 155

Seats At Dissolution:

Conservatives: 127

Liberals: 95

Bloc: 48

NDP: 30

Independents: 4

Vacancies: 4

Green Party: 0

(Note the Greens did manage to get former Liberal MP Blair Wilson to join their party, but he never actually got to take his seat before the election was called.)

To see who won in your riding in 2006, click here.

For more on how the Canadian electoral system works and its advantages and disadvantages, click here.

Sources: Elections Canada and Canadian House Of Commons