Dear Editor
Have you received your voter's information card? Can you spot the statement, "Please note that this card is not a piece of ID?” Harry Neufeld is an Elections Canada expert who recommended cards be recognized as ID. When he found out the Fair Elections Act does not recognize them, he wrote, "It can be anticipated that many tens of thousands of otherwise fully qualified voters will simply be unable to meet the new attestation-of-residence requirements" — fully qualified voters like people without fixed addresses, students on campus, First Nations on reserves and seniors in retirement homes.
As a rural resident, I've heard conflicting information about whether or not I need ID with my land location on it. After checking online to confirm I'm registered with my land location, I'm playing it safe. I'm taking my power bill with my name and land location because my driver's license has just my mailing address.
So I'm safe, but what about my two adult children who (sadly) aren't named on the power bill? New rules say I can vouch for only one person in the polling station, so I can vouch for only one child.
Shouldn't Elections Canada be telling us about these changes? Sadly, another change is the Fair Elections Act eliminated Elections Canada's mandate to "engage the electorate."
I encourage you to play it safe. Visit elections.ca or phone 1-866-294-6780 to learn your three ID options and make sure when you go vote, you can vote.
Nancy Carswell
Shellbrook
