The list of suitable identification voters can show at the ballot box during this October’s municipal election may grow significantly.
Municipal Affairs has given municipalities the green light to identify additional types of ID that would allow an elector to vote.
New this election cycle under the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) is that all voters must produce identification that provides their name and place of residence.
The reason behind the attempt to increase the types of ID people can use is to alleviate the potential of eligible voters being turned away because they are unable to prove their residency.
During a round-table discussion on this issue at the Alberta Municipal Clerks Association conference, voting issues for those living in rural municipalities with addresses indicating a P.O. Box in the nearest urban municipality was debated.
For those not on the list of electors, a piece of government ID with their name, address and photograph would be required. If a voter does not have government ID, they must produce two pieces of identification, one with the elector’s name and the other with their address.
Voters on the list of electors will only require one piece of identification authorized by the chief electoral officer.
In addition to allowing supplementary ID at the ballot box, the proposed amendment would permit the returning officer to use discretion when it came to which piece of identification a voter presented, due to the extensive list of acceptable identification allowed in the LAEA.
Along with common forms of ID, such as a driver’s licence, some acceptable pieces of identification with the elector’s name would include: birth certificate, various Canadian Forces IDs, student ID card, marriage certificate, service and fitness club memberships, old age security card, library card and passport.
Identification with the voter’s name and address could include an attestation of residence, a government cheque or pay stub, letter from a public curator, guardian or trustee and a utility bill.
Council gave first reading to this amendment during its April 22 meeting and will revisit the matter in the coming weeks.
The Town of Cochrane was unaware at the time of this review by council whether the minister of Municipal Affairs would take any action on this ID requirement.
The municipal election will be held Oct. 21.
In the 2010 election, 39 per cent (4,014) of eligible Cochrane voters cast a ballot.
A total of 10,350 residents were eligible to vote, leaving 6,336 without a say in the outcome.
