Decoding: What I.D. do I Need to Vote?

by Apathy is Boring — March 25, 2010

We know it can be confusing to figure out which documents you need to dig up to be able to vote, and that it can be a stumbling block when you decide whether or not to head to your polling station on election day. No worries, we are here to help. When show up to cast your ballot you'll need to provide proof of identity and place of residence. There are many different combinations of these which you can use to prove that you are indeed the face that corresponds with the name on that long list.
 
Identification needs to be presented at the polling station to ensure that people aren’t voting more than once and that only eligible voters vote.  Without ID requirements someone could go up to a polling station, pretend to be you and vote for someone you would never in a million years vote for.  Identification is required to ensure that the outcome of an election is reflective of what citizens actually want.
 
There are three combinations of documents you can present when you vote.  They are:
 
Option One
Provide ONE piece of identification that has your name AND address AND photo.  A driver’s license will provide this information all on one card.
 
Option Two
Provide TWO pieces of identification.  Both have to have your name and one of the two has to have your address. For example, a birth certificate and a hydro bill will provide your name on both documents and your current address on one.
 
Option Three
You can have someone vouch for you at the polling station.  If you chose to do this, the person has to be registered to vote for that polling station and you are both going to have to make sworn statements that you are who you say you are. This is possibly but usually used for people who do not own ID.
 
Remember that ID isn’t just a government ID, you can use bills and bank statements and your library card and your credit card as ID too.  print or bookmark this page to fend off any last minute mad sorts through disorganized piles of homework and magazines to find an hydro bill or something of the like. No one likes those moments. Happy Voting!
 
For a full list of ALL the MANY different choices you have for identification, check out this link.
 
 

Source:Election Canada