City of Vancouver - News Release - June 25, 2013 Voting in November 2014 Vancouver Civic Election easier for everyone From November 4 to 15, 2014, voters in Vancouver and throughout BC will head to the polls for local government elections. The City of Vancouver is making the local voting process as convenient and accessible as possible by offering the option to cast a ballot at any of the close to 120 voting locations on November 15, nine days of voting including advance voting, and additional voting supports for persons with disabilities during advance voting. For the first time ever, voters will be able to vote at any of the voting locations across the city, based on the most convenient location for their schedule. “We want to ensure we do everything possible to make voting in the municipal election as easy and convenient as possible,” said the City of Vancouver’s Chief Election Officer Janice MacKenzie. In addition to the option to vote anywhere, the City is also expanding the number of advance voting days and locations as well as hours of operation to provide as many opportunities as possible for voters to participate in the municipal election and local democracy. In Nov. 2014, advance voting will take place over eight days at eight locations throughout the city from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Nov. 4. Anyone can advance vote. In total, there will be nine full days of voting between November 4, and 15, 2014. During advance voting, voting place staff will pilot the use of several accessibility aids to assist persons with disabilities including a sip and puff device, an audio system with headphones to read the ballot, and a magnification device to enlarge the ballot. “Statistics show voters increasingly like the convenience and flexibility of advance voting,” MacKenzie said. “By adding additional locations, days, extended hours, and extra support we hope voters will take advantage of the opportunity to cast their ballot to shape Vancouver’s future.” In the 2011 municipal election, Vancouver voter participation was 35 per cent of eligible voters, a four point increase over 2008. In 2011 across BC, average turnout for local-government elections was 29.55 per cent. “We continue to see a concerning trend of low voter turnout for elections at all levels of government and especially at the local government level,” MacKenzie added. “The low turnout is particularly noticeable among younger voters. Our 2014 election outreach has a significant focus on young people and engaging them in our democratic process.” On Nov. 15, 2014, Vancouver voters will elect one mayor, 10 city councillors, seven Park Board commissioners and nine school board trustees, all for four-year terms. Voters will also cast ballots on capital plan borrowing questions to fund major projects such as building and transportation infrastructure, public safety projects and parks. Nominations for candidates for the Vancouver election open at 9 a.m. on Sept.30, 2014 and close at 4 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2014. Information about the 2014 municipal election, including voter registration and a full list of voting days and locations, can be found at vancouver.ca/vote.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 23:51:42 +0000
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