Story:
EDITOR,
I am writing to express my frustration with the disorganization I experienced while voting in the current election.
I am a student from Alberta who has been attending university in Squamish for the past four years. I am registered in the Sea to Sky riding and voted in this district in the 2008 federal election. I was moving on May 2, so I attempted to vote during the specified advanced voting days. Upon arriving to the polling station, I realized that although I am registered and received my voter card at my current Squamish address, the outdated Alberta address on my driver's licence meant that I needed to re-prove my address in Squamish. This was an inconvenience but entirely my own fault as this information is clearly stated on my voter card. However, it ended up taking three employees at the elections venue approximately 10 minutes to finally determine that in fact they could not let me vote without proving my address. As this was the last day to vote prior to May 2, I was told by the woman who appeared to be overseeing the venue that I could bring proof of my address (an undated letter from my mother would apparently qualify) and vote at the Elections Canada office anytime they were open during the days leading up to the election.
I proceeded to find a letter proving my address and make my way down to the Elections Canada office the next day at 6:30 p.m. However, I found out that contrary to the information I was given, voting was only available until 6 p.m. even though the office was open until 9 p.m., and that in fact this was the last possible day to vote at their office.
Frustrated but determined to vote, I delayed my 14-hour drive to Alberta by an hour in order to show up at the Brennan Park polling station on May 2 and cast my ballot. Upon showing up, I realized I did not have my voter card on me as it had been packed up with all my belongings in the back of my car. Undaunted, I went in and after being directed to first one and then another table to register, I waited in line. As I was standing there, a man about my age was turned away for not providing proof of his address, while shortly after, a woman was allowed to vote even though her driver's licence had the wrong address on it. The person registering her determined that her voter card being sent to the correct address was proof enough. The inconsistency was killing me.
I filled out the registration form and went to my assigned poll only to be told I did not have to fill out the registration form if I was already a registered voter. After having the person in charge that day officially void my registration form so that I wasn't registered twice, I was finally given my ballot and proceeded to exercise my right to vote. As a 24-year-old voter I was frustrated and discouraged by the lack of organization and professionalism at the polls. Although I appreciate the time voluntary employees have dedicated for the election to take place, clearly the level of training requires some improvement. How can you expect my generation to take voting seriously when no one seems to know what is going on?
Shandel Brown
Red Deer, Alta.
