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Voting: A Student’s How-to

 

 

Outrage at government actions is often widespread on university campuses.

However, in order to make a change regarding issues such as tuition fees and student debt, students must get out and vote.

In the 2011 federal election, 62 per cent of young voters aged 19 to 24 stayed home. Our current majority government was won by the votes of 39.6 per cent of the Canadian electorate.

Take your chance to decide who will represent you in your riding. Cast your vote.

In order to vote, you must first register. You can either register you address here in Halifax or in your home riding.

You can register at this website: http://bit.ly/1gnDWLB

To register your residence room as your address, you will need a letter or confirmation of residence, which can be found at this address: http://bit.ly/1URSDEk

From there, an administrator should contact the local returning officer to confirm that Dalhousie is listed with Elections Canada as a residence. When you go to cast your ballot, bring the letter and a second piece of ID showing your name. More information here: http://bit.ly/1Y60rXJ

In order to vote, you must not only be registered, but also be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and bring either your driver’s license, provincial or territorial ID card or other government-issued card bearing your name, photo, and current address.

If you do not have such an ID, the alternative is to bring two pieces (not necessarily government-issued), with at least one showing your current address, such as a health card.

More information and the many alternatives for IDs to vote can be found here: http://bit.ly/1Y60rXJ

When voting, you will be given a blank ballot. You must know your candidate’s name and how to spell it.

Voter registration cards will be mailed out in early October. If you do not receive this card, you can still vote, you only have to go find your polling station through www.electionscanada.ca and enter your postal code in the box at the top.

If away from your home riding, you can vote by mail. You can register for this either online or in any Elections Canada office with an ID with your address. You pay for postage. The ballot must arrive in Ottawa by 6 p.m. on Oct. 19.

You can vote at an Elections Canada office, anywhere in Canada, before Oct. 13. Halifax’s Elections Canada office is at 6032 Normandy Drive, located on the 7 bus route. Their phone number is 1-866-204-8447. Dartmouth’s office is located at 205 Pleasant Street, along the 60 bus route. Their phone number is 1-866-204-8445.

You can find other Elections Canada offices here: http://bit.ly/1BgbGyd

Advance polls are Oct. 9-12, 12-8 p.m. Your voter registration card will tell you where to go.

As part of a pilot project, there will be polling stations on Oct. 5-8, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Dalhousie University’s LeMarchant Place Atrium at 1246 LeMarchant Street, the Dalhousie Student Union Building, and Saint Mary’s University’s Patrick Power Library, Room LI135, 923 Robie Street.

To vote on Oct. 19, go to your polling station with your ID. Polling stations will be set up at the beginning of October.

More information on the different ways to vote here: http://bit.ly/1T7c4bz

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