New ID rules anger voters

Published Wednesday October 15th, 2008

The Canadian Press

HALIFAX - People across the country were having difficulty casting their ballots in the federal election Tuesday due to confusion over new voting rules.

An Elections Canada official said many voters were unaware of legislation brought in last year that states they must present identification showing their name and address.

"People have to have ID and they have to show who they are and prove who they are and that is different," spokesman Dana Doiron said from Mahone Bay, N.S.

"It's challenging people and it's going to take a while for people to catch on to the changes and that's unfortunate."

Students at Dalhousie University in Halifax were being turned away because they didn't have identification required under the new rules.

Kristin Sinel lined up at the Student Union Building with a voter card and some ID, but she did not have a signed form from her university residence stating her address.

"This ridiculous," Sinel told CBC. "If they wanted this information from me, they should have asked for it ahead of time."

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"This ridiculous," Sinel told CBC. "If they wanted this information from me, they should have asked for it ahead of time."

No,

What is ridiculous is that you did not know what you needed in order to vote. I mean what has it been since the new rules came into effect? 1 year? Gee that really is not enough time...I mean between all of your trips to the mall, the hairdresser, movies...you just did not have enough time.

The Mad Ape
www.tatumba.com

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Mad Ape, Tatumba.com on 15/10/08 06:10:26 AM AST

There was a good amount of publicity concerning the ID requirements. Those complaining about the requirements were not being responsible by paying attention to it. As far as the cases of those on campus needing proof of their residence, that was the responsibility of the university to ensure that the students were aware of the need for the proof of residency, but ultimately the onus is on the students to pay attention to the regulations.

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A Reader, Fredericton on 15/10/08 09:24:52 AM AST

Whatever happened that this had to be put into effect? All went well in previous elections. If you were not known you were able to have someone swear to your identity that they knew you. A friend of mine had the proper ID (driver's licence) with her name,address and picture on it and still could not vote! Why? Could someone explain this,please? If a picture is of you and perhaps you dyed your hair or had it cut,does it mean you have to stop doing this just before an election to look like your driver's licence or other picture ID?

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G. Doherty, Minto on 15/10/08 06:13:29 PM AST

I think that is just another way that the current government is creating barriers for people to take part in the election process. There has never, to my knowledge, ever been an issue with voter fraud in Canada.

I showed up with picture ID with my name and address and they were still having a tough time to decide whether I could vote or not. This was after I was already turned away with various other ID that morning.

I was on the voter list, had my voter card, and had all kinds of other ID and STILL had to go SNB to get a picture ID with my address on it. I did get to vote but, the process should not be that difficult.

There are a variety of reasons that people may not have obtained picture ID. Seniors and some of the youth may not have the 10 dollars need to go get it done and furthermore, may not have anyone to take them there. I was lucky to have had both 10 dollars and a way to the SNB and back again to get this done.

Way to leave out huge chunks of potential voters!

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