Recently people have been sharing inaccurate information about voter registration and ID. We’d like to clear the record.
Elections Canada mails voter registration letters to potential electors (ow.ly/rM5X30maj65). These letters say the recipient is not registered to vote. They invite the recipient to register *if* they are a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age.
Voter registration letters for potential electors are not the same thing as voter information cards (ow.ly/cwHK30majgx). Voter information cards are cards we send at election time to registered voters only.
When a potential elector goes to register themselves, they must sign a statement to the effect that they are a Canadian citizen, aged 18 years or older.
The voter information card is not currently accepted as ID. At no time have electors been allowed to vote by showing a voter information card as their only piece of ID.
Bill C-76, currently before Parliament, would allow the voter information card to be used as a proof of address. Elections Canada would not accept the voter information card alone–it would have to be shown with another accepted piece of ID that proves their identity.
More about voter ID: ow.ly/lxHr30majpE. More about Bill C-76: ow.ly/pA3N30majqt
