BILL VANDER ZALM DEMANDS ELECTIONS BC ACT AS MISSING BALLOT COMPLAINTS RISE
Jul 30, 2011 Press Release
FIGHT HST ASKS VOTERS WHO DO NOT HAVE HST BALLOTS BUT REQUESTED THEM FROM ELECTIONS BC TO CONTACT FIGHT HST IMMEDIATELY THROUGH WEBSITE
Bill Vander Zalm demands Elections BC act as missing ballot complaints rise
VANCOUVER – Fight HST is asking any voter who requested an HST referendum ballot from Elections BC but has not yet received one to immediately contact Fight HST through the email form below.
Fight HST leader and former BC Premier Bill Vander Zalm says the organization has already received hundreds of emails and phone calls from worried voters who didn’t get an HST referendum ballot in the mail, called Elections BC’s telephone hotline to get one and still have no vote – with the August 5 deadline looming.
“No registered voter who contacted Elections BC before the July 22 deadline and who has not yet received their ballot should be denied a vote – that would be an affront to democracy,” Vander Zalm said. “Elections BC has the power to remedy this situation, which threatens to disenfranchise thousands of voters through no fault of their own. Elections BC must act now to solve this problem.”
Vander Zalm is asking voters who have not received ballots to allow Fight HST to tell their story to the media to ensure that Elections BC understands the magnitude of the problem and the frustration. Some voters have already done so – here are a few examples:
“Have been traveling across Canada this summer for 2 months. Called Elections BC to get a ballot for both my husband and I, sent to P.E.I. Canada with 9 days to arrive before we got there. It is now 3.5 weeks later and not there yet. Called elections BC again on July 14 to then have ballots sent to Newfoundland as we were moving on. Two weeks now and it is still now there and unfortunately we are now heading out west towards home again and will be unable for either of us to vote. Any questions or suggestions please contact us via email or call our cell.
Thank you Carla and Joe Rauer-Reis, South Delta.”
“I am missing a total of 3 ballots for my household. I also had called in for my dad who also is still waiting for his ballot. I had did a quick survey with my friends and family and several of them have not received them. I also have informed chek 6 news.
Thanks Sarb Gill, Surrey.”
“I have contacted Elections BC 4 times and they sent my ballot package to my old address not once but twice even though it was correct for the last election and my husband received his package.
They have told me I cannot pick a package up in person and that I should contact Canada Post. I want Elections BC investigated….
Alanna Hulko, Sidney, BC”
Fight HST strategist Bill Tieleman said Elections BC has several possible remedies within its power, including to extend the deadline for ballots received, to accept statutory declarations from voters who swear they are eligible to vote, contacted Elections BC to receive a ballot but did not get one, and to issue ballots to those voters who for whatever reason were not sent one despite requesting it.
“Every voter has a democratic right to vote in this HST referendum. Whether they didn’t get a vote because of human error or computer error, whether it happened at Canada Post or Elections BC – it doesn’t matter now,” Tieleman said. “The solutions are easily at hand and the credibility of both mail in ballots and this important HST referendum are at stake – Elections BC has to get this fixed before the deadline and get these voters their ballots as promised.”
To contact Fight HST about a missing ballot, complete the submission form below and the email will be sent directly to Fight HST. Please indicate if Fight HST can use your name with media or if you prefer your name to remain confidential.
Share on FacebookTags: affront, ballots, bc premier, canada, democracy, elections bc, email, frustration, july 14, magnitude, mail, newfoundland, phone calls, referendum ballot, registered voter, vancouver, vote
IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR HST REFERENDUM BALLOT, CONTACT FIGHTHST IMMEDIATELY
Jul 28, 2011 Details
“If you have NOT received your HST referendum ballot yet and you HAVE called Elections BC before the July 22 deadline to request a ballot, please contact us immediately. We are trying to get Elections BC to extend the deadline and find a way for all eligible British Columbians to exercise their right to vote. Please also indicate if you are willing for Fight HST to release your name to the media.”
Share on FacebookTags: british columbians, elections, HST, mail, media contact, referendum ballot
Loading ...