Elections BC is conducting an enumeration and updating the provincial voters list for the May 14, 2013 provincial general election.
Elections BC is implementing a multi-layered approach to enumerating the province in advance of the May 2013 Provincial General Election” says Chief Electoral Officer Keith Archer.
“We are asking eligible voters to register and those already on the list to ensure their voter registration is up-to-date.”
On Feb. 25, Elections BC started mail more than 1.9 million notices to residential addresses in the province, asking eligible residents to register to vote or to update their voter registration information.
Residents can do this online at www.elections.bc.ca/ovr, or by calling Elections BC toll-free at 1-800-661-8683. Residents may also identify the names of voters no longer living at their address and request their names be removed from the address.
Starting on March 6, Elections BC voter registration officials will provide voter registration opportunities throughout the province at shopping malls, community centres, campuses and more. Voter registration officials will be conducting door-to-door visits in selected high mobility neighbourhoods, new subdivisions and residential complexes.
View the electoral district specific voter registration opportunities on the Elections BC website at: www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/2013-voters-list-update/#opportunities/.
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Statistics
• 3,276,388 – number of estimated eligible voters in B.C. as of April 1, 2012 (BC Stats).
• 3,145,120 – number of registered voters in B.C. as of Feb. 11, 2013 (Elections BC).
• 2,995,465 – number of registered voters as of the May 12, 2009 provincial general election.
Why are voters enumerated?
• An enumeration is a set of voter registration outreach activities conducted before an election
• Enumerations improve the accuracy and completeness of the provincial voters list. This is particularly important in B.C., which has a high mobility rate.
• Creating an accurate voters list enhances the efficiency of the voting process. When voters are pre-registered, they will receive timely information about voting opportunities, and are able to vote quickly and easily, reducing their time at the voting place.
2013 Enumeration
• The 2013 Voters List Update (enumeration) takes place between Feb. 25 and April 23, 2013. Elections BC will employ a range of activities to reach eligible voters across the province. An emphasis will be placed on targeting groups that historically have been under-represented on the voters list.
• Beginning in April 2013, Elections BC voter registration officials will visit homeless shelters, social service agencies and long-term care facilities to register eligible voters and provide information about voting. The objective of these outreach activities is to make registration accessible for those who may otherwise face barriers to participation in the provincial electoral process.
• May 2008 – The Election Amendment Act required the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct a residence-to-residence enumeration ahead of scheduled general elections called after Sept. 1, 2009.
• In May 2012, before a residence-to-residence enumeration was conducted, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act received Royal Assent, amending the Election Act and removing the requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct a residence-to-residence enumeration ahead of scheduled general elections.