If you are confused about what exactly you need to include with your mail-in ballot for the Chilliwack school board byelection, join the club.
A number of people have expressed concern to The Progress about what appears to be a request to provide a credit card number on the certification envelope as part of your proof of identification.
A City of Chilliwack election official cleared up the confusion.
The mail-in ballot includes the requirement to include your name and residential address. Voters need to sign a standard election declaration that they are 18 or older, a Canadian citizen, have resided in Chilliwack for at least 30 days before voting, haven’t already voted and aren’t otherwise disqualified to vote.
But under the identification and witness information is where there has been some confusion. Two pieces of identification are required, and a driver’s licence is suggested for proof of residency and a credit card for proof of identity. (See below for more examples of acceptable identification.)
You do not, however, need to include your credit card number or your driver’s licence number. Those are only to be shown to the witness who is also required to sign your mail-in ballot.
“So you require two pieces of identification,” the election official explained. “One for residency and one for identity. We don’t want any numbers etc. off the cards, just the type of identification you have shown your witness.”
In essence it is no different than the process of voting in person, except that it is the election official rather than your witness who checks identification and writes down addresses of voters.
Mail-in ballots need to be received no later than 8 p.m. on general voting day, Saturday, Feb. 13, but they can also be dropped off at city hall at any time up to that time.
Polls are open today (Wednesday, Feb. 3) for advanced voting until 8 p.m. at the Landing Sports Centre on Spadina Avenue.
READ MORE: Polls open today for advance voting in Chilliwack school board byelection
There are two more advanced voting days: Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Chilliwack Heritage Park.
General voting day is Saturday, Feb. 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chilliwack Landing Sports Centre and Chilliwack Heritage Park (44140 Luckakuck Way).
Examples of proof of identity and residency for voting in the Feb. 13, 2021 Chilliwack school board byelection.
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