Canada’s federal election is looming on the horizon and soon voters in the Red Deer-Lacombe area will be heading to the polling station to cast their votes.
For those you are not sure of where to what time to go at Elections Canada spokesperson Leanne Nyirfa says there are many helpful tools on the Elections Canada website aimed to aid voters, including a Voter Information Service.
“That will tell you where to go to vote,” said Nyirfa
The site provides voters with information regarding their electoral district, candidates, maps and locations of advance and election-day polling stations.
People can enter specific searches using their postal codes, district name, candidate name, by map, name of town or even a section-township-range-meridian (STRM) address search.
When it comes to actually voting, Nyirfa says individuals need to get registered if they are not already. “By now people should have received what’s called a voter information card in the mail.”
“If a person doesn’t receive one that means they aren’t registered to vote,” she added.
Those who are not registered and wish to vote can do so online, by calling Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868, or in person. Registering can be done right up until a person goes to vote.
“If you didn’t get a card in the mail you can still go to vote,” said Nyirfa.
To be able to vote individuals must have certain pieces of identification with them. One type is government issued identification with the person’s photo one it, such as a drivers license.
For those who have nothing that falls in that category Nyirfa says two other pieces of identification with the person’s name and address will suffice.
If they do not have that either a person can take an oath. They are able to bring another person who fills the identification requirements and lives within the same electoral district to attest to their ID.
“There’s a really good section on the site called first time voters and student voters,” said Nyirfa.
If a person still has uncertainties they are encouraged to call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868.