Can I Vote?

[Jeremy360]

For the "this paperwork is actually important and not just busywork" file, update your SOR beforehand.  I left it until now to find out that changes come into effect 14 days after the civilian polling day.  I'm now stuck voting in a locked up riding in British Columbia, instead of the incredibly close Kingston/Islands that I've resided in for the past two years.  I assumed, incorrectly that as long as my pay stubs were showing up at my home that I'd be okay.

I'll still be voting regardless.  I believe it to be both my right and responsibility, but it's a tad disheartening that I'll only impact the popular vote column.  I'll count it as my one "FNG mistake" and correct it for next time.

 

[ModlrMike]

You may yet be permitted to vote in Kingston. Call Elections Canada to confirm. I quickly looked at the Act, and it may be on your side. My understanding is that you need appropriated ID, and proof of residence. Again, check with Elections Canada, toll free 1-800-463-6868.


Further detail taken from this article:

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/newstoday/article/1399502

"People can still register to vote at their polling station, but we urge them to register before that to avoid having to wait. Don't wait to the last minute," Janigan said.

People who have moved since the last federal election (October of 2008) could find themselves in a different riding this time around. And if they haven't received a voter card in the mail, they can still vote. There are 10 electoral districts, or ridings, in New Brunswick. Each is represented by a seat in the House of Commons.

Electors who have not received their voter information card by April 13 or who receive a card with incorrect information should contact their local Elections Canada office no later than 6 p.m. (local time) on April 26. Electors who receive a card for a deceased person or someone unknown at that address should also contact their local Elections Canada office.

People who haven't received their voter information card should know which riding they live in, the location of the returning office and the location of their polling station.

Janigan said the best option for people is to call 1-800-463-6868. The call will be directed to the nearest returning office where attendants are available to help. You can also use the Elections Canada website at www.elections.ca to find the information required.

People who have not registered to vote may do so in advance at their local returning office. To do so, you must be able to prove your identity and address with a valid piece of identification like a driver's licence, passport or citizenship card. If you don't have one of those, you can use a health card or power bill that shows your address. The third option would be to take an oath with someone who can vouch for you and your address.

If you can't make it to the returning office before May 2, you can still register to vote on election day. But Elections Canada is urging people to do it beforehand to avoid any lineups or delays.

Returning offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

 

[PuckChaser]

Just show up at the polling station with a bill and 2 pieces of ID. Voila, you can vote in Kingston and the Islands.

 

[McG]

Just show up at the polling station with a bill and 2 pieces of ID. Voila, you can vote in Kingston and the Islands.

No.  CF electors are registered to vote in a riding according to thier SOR.  It may slip the attention of staff at civilian poling stations if you show up to vote as a civi, but you must vote according to your SOR.  See paras 6 and 11 of CANELECTGEN 003/11.

My unit is adding verification of SOR to the annual DAG because there are a lot of people who only think of it in the window where it is too late to do anything (during an election).

 

[Journeyman]

No.  CF electors are registered to vote in a riding according to thier SOR.  It may slip the attention of staff at civilian poling stations if you show up to vote as a civi, but you must vote according to your SOR.  See paras 6 and 11 of CANELECTGEN 003/11.

???

Are you suggesting that an Inspector General will somehow confirm, along with matching socks' thread colour, that our people voted as CF members IAW their SOR rather than as Civies IAW their actual residence?

I'm confused.

 

[Infanteer]

???

Are you suggesting that an Inspector General will somehow confirm, along with matching socks' thread colour, that our people voted as CF members IAW their SOR rather than as Civies IAW their actual residence?

Probably prudent to sort out before hand considering it is the law.

 

[dapaterson]

Do not take advice from the Internet.  As a CF elector, you are only entitled to vote in the location specified in your statement of ordinary residence.

Per the Elections Act:

6. Subject to this Act, every person who is qualified as an elector is entitled to have his or her name included in the list of electors for the polling division in which he or she is ordinarily resident and to vote at the polling station for that polling division.

CF electors are defined by the Act, as are the voting processes for CF electors and others (under part 11, the Special Voting Rules).  You can vote at th elocal polling station only if that is the polling station that would be used per your Statement of Ordinary Residence.


If you wish to change your residence, fill out the paperwork.  You did not.  You are legally entitled to vote in the place you declared (under oath) to be your residence.  The CF goes to considerable effort to ensure you are able to vote in your ordinary residence, regardless of where you are in Canada or abroad, on course, tasking, posting or mission.  Your part in this is keeping your documentation up to date.  You didn't.

 

[Journeyman]

Probably prudent to sort out before hand considering it is the law.

Since I'm currently co-located within my SOR (hey, sometimes it happens), it doesn't actually effect me.

And as noted, I have no heartache admitting when I'm confused or mistaken (it happened once before in the early-80s I think    )

 

[GAP]

It's lasted that long?..... :nod:

 

[Old Sweat]

And as noted, I have no heartache admitting when I'm confused or mistaken (it happened once before in the early-80s I think    )

Are you sure it wasn't the recruiters that erred?

 

[Jeremy360]

Do not take advice from the Internet.  As a CF elector, you are only entitled to vote in the location specified in your statement of ordinary residence.

Per the Elections Act:

CF electors are defined by the Act, as are the voting processes for CF electors and others (under part 11, the Special Voting Rules).  You can vote at th elocal polling station only if that is the polling station that would be used per your Statement of Ordinary Residence.


If you wish to change your residence, fill out the paperwork.  You did not.  You are legally entitled to vote in the place you declared (under oath) to be your residence.  The CF goes to considerable effort to ensure you are able to vote in your ordinary residence, regardless of where you are in Canada or abroad, on course, tasking, posting or mission.  Your part in this is keeping your documentation up to date.  You didn't.

Seen, thank you kindly for the responses.

I didn't mean to create a storm, upon further research a notice did go out in June 2010 telling us to update the SOR, but was fumbled by PAT somewhere.  I suspect it's gone through the noisy fax machine with the majority of my pay statements before my change of address.

I'll be voting at the drill hall this afternoon, for a candidate in the riding on my previous SOR.  I'd rather not test my luck while awaiting clearance, my apologies for derailing the topic.

 

[PuckChaser]

No.  CF electors are registered to vote in a riding according to thier SOR.  It may slip the attention of staff at civilian poling stations if you show up to vote as a civi, but you must vote according to your SOR.  See paras 6 and 11 of CANELECTGEN 003/11.

If I don't have a SOR on file, does that mean I can't vote? I really think it only matters if you use the SOR and civi polling stations to vote twice in 2 different ridings.

 

[Pat in Halifax]

If you don't have an SOR, check your MPRR-Your Federal Electoral District is listed there. I voted at work on Tuesday (SOR Halifax, IR'd to Ottawa). Make the effort and VOTE!

 

[ballz]

I thought your SOR was automatically where ever you were living on the day you were sworn-in, unless you did the necessary paperwork to change it?

 

[PuckChaser]

I CT'd from the PRes, wasn't part of the in-clearance paperwork for the RegF. I liked the idea in this thread of having the SOR in the ARV each year, encourages troops to think about where they're voting.

 

[McG]

I thought your SOR was automatically where ever you were living on the day you were sworn-in, unless you did the necessary paperwork to change it?

It is not automatic.  There is a form that must be completed.  I've noticed a trend in my current location that seems to suggest the SOR paperwork has not been completed for many/most/all pers that component transfered from the PRes since the new process managed in Ottawa.

If I don't have a SOR on file, does that mean I can't vote? I really think it only matters if you use the SOR and civi polling stations to vote twice in 2 different ridings.

If you do not have an SOR, go see your OR.  An SOR cannot be changed once the election is called, but it can be created if it does not exist.

 

[exgunnertdo]

I CT'd as well from the PRes and filled it out with the CT paperwork (at the CFRC). But I guess it gets missed sometimes. I have also had it reviewed sometimes (not annually, but when they did the PRV, I think 3 times in 5 years in the RegF).

This year, when the people came by the house to confirm the voters' list, they asked if we were military. My husband said yes, and they wouldn't put us on the voting list. They told us we had to vote at the Drill Hall. I was impressed that they knew the rules! This was in the area east of the base in Kingston, I imagine every second house is military.

In Ottawa for the last election, we were on the regular voters' list. At least, we got voter cards - not sure how we ended up on the list. But we voted as per our SORs at the CF poll. It would have been very easy to vote twice.