I’ve been so caught up in the Federal elections, that I hadn’t even noticed that there’s a fairly important Provincial by-election in our Vancouver-Point-Grey riding, May 11th. The newly elected leader of the BC Liberal Party, Christy Clark, is vying a seat in BC’s legislature. She’s heading off against the BC NDP’s David Eby, an adjunct professor at UBC Law School.
Jason Payne-Png, The Province.
I don’t know what the rules are on students who are leaving residence before May*, but I know I’ll be attempting to vote anyway. I live here 8 months of the year, which is 8 months more than Christy Clark.
While I’ve just started researching, I’m pretty sure I’ll vote for Eby. It’s true that Christy Clark is heaps better than Gordon Campbell (what with finally increasing minimum wage, and not being pushy about the HST), but wouldn’t it be a great insult to the Liberal party & all they have/have not done these past 10 years by denying her the seat? Besides, David Eby is pretty awesome. And that’s not just because he seems like a crappy politician (he’s so…genuine), participated in UBC’s vote mob the other week, had a stint with the BC Civil Liberties Association, and sings Bon Jovi unashamedly in public. No, no, if we were impressed by musical talent, we’d be voting for Stephen Harper’s Conservatives in the Federal elections, but of course we’re not! The real reason is that BC NDP policy is a much needed change to a decade of BC Liberal reign, and Eby is an outstanding candidate with some fresh new ideas. (Not that I agree with all of them.)
In any case, take part in this historical by-election! Well, I guess all things are technically historical, including this blogpost…but you know what I mean.
P.S. I know there are more candidates (Danielle Alie, William Gibbens, Eddie Petrossian, and Francoise Raunet), but these are the frontrunners.
*Edit:
I just called the district electoral officer. I can vote! Here’s how:
By-election website.
I’ve compiled information from the website here:
ELIGIBILITY
In order to vote in an election for an electoral district, an individual must:
- be a Canadian citizen;
- be 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day for the election;
- be a resident of the electoral district; (The district electoral officer told me that: Students, who have have been residents of the riding 6 months up to the election, are allowed to vote. Even if you’re not coming back in September. I figure the one week between leaving residence and the election is good game…However, here’s his number if you want to double check before you bus out: 604-660-1446. )
- have been a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before General Voting Day for the election
- be registered as a voter for the electoral district or register as such in conjunction with voting (just do it at the voting station); and
- not be disqualified by the Election Act or any other enactment from voting in the election or be otherwise disqualified by law
HOW TO VOTE
WHAT TO BRING?
Voters must provide:
- one document issued by the Government of B.C. or Canada that contains the voter’s name, photograph and residential address, such as a B.C. driver’s licence or B.C. Identification Card (BCID)
OR
- a Certificate of Indian Status
OR
- two documents that contain the voter’s name. At least one of the documents must also contain the voter’s residential address.
More information on what types of documents are accepted here.
WHEN/WHERE?
1) General voting:
Voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
- Bayview Community School, 2251 Collingwood St, Vancouver, B.C.
- General Gordon Elementary School, 2896 6 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St, Vancouver, B.C.
- Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2325 7 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- Kitsilano Secondary School, 2550 10 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- Lord Byng Secondary School, 3939 16 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- Old Barn Community Centre, 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver, B.C.
- Point Grey Community Church, 3512 7 Ave, Vancouver, B.C.
- Queen Mary Elementary School, 2000 Trimble St, Vancouver, B.C.
- St. Augustine’s Church, 2028 7 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- St. James Community Square, 3214 10 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- St. Marks Anglican Church, 1805 Larch St, Vancouver, B.C.
- Steeves Manor, 1985 Wallace St, Vancouver, B.C.
- Student Union Building, 6138 Student Union Mall, Vancouver, B.C. (Yay!)
- University Hill Elementary School, 5395 Chancellor Blvd, Vancouver, B.C.
- University Hill Secondary School, 2896 Acadia Rd, Vancouver, B.C.
- West Point Grey United Church, 4595 8 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
2) Advance voting
Advance voting will be held from Wednesday, May 4 to Saturday, May 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Jericho Hill Centre, 4180 4 Ave W, Vancouver, B.C.
- Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St, Vancouver, B.C.
- St. Anselm’s Anglican Church, 5210 University Blvd, Vancouver, B.C.
3) Any-day-voting
You can vote at the Vancouver-Point Grey district electoral office during office hours until 4 p.m. on May 11, 2011.
District electoral office:
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
215 – 2678 West Broadway
(entrance on Stephens Street)
Vancouver BC V6K 2G3
3) Vote by Mail
To request a voting package, click here.
miriam