Rock the Vote
What: the 2004Federal Election, the 38th General Election
When: Monday, June 28, 2004
In light of the up and coming election, the low
voter turn out in recent years, and the excuses we come up with for not voting
this e-mail compiles everything you need to know to make it to the polls. Feel
free copy, paste, and pass this message on.
1) The parties and candidates
2) Voting, how to . . .
3) Interesting information and links
1) The parties and candidates
The Parties (registered with Elections Canada):
Bloc Québécois – web site: http://www.bloc.org/
Communist Party of Canada – web site: http://www.communist-party.ca/
Conservative Party* – web site: http://www.conservative.ca/
Green Party of Canada – web site: http://www.greenparty.ca/
Liberal Party – web site: http://www.liberal.ca/
Marijuana Party – web site: http://www.marijuanaparty.com
Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada – web site: http://www.cpcml.ca/
New Democratic Party – web site: http://www.ndp.ca/
Progressive Canadian Party – web site: http://www.pcparty.org/
For information on the Independent candidates see: http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/leadersparties/parties/independent.html
Some places to find information on the parties:
- For a complete list of the parties registered with Elections Canada see:
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol&document=index&dir=par&lang=e
En français:
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol&document=index&dir=par&lang=f
- For an overview of the parties see: http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/leadersparties/index.html
- You can find a compilation of the platforms and policies of the main parties
at: http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/leadersparties/parties/platforms.html
- Televised debates:
CBC News: Canada Votes - French-language Leaders' Debate Monday June 14th at
8:00 p.m. ET on CBC Newsworld
CBC News: Canada Votes - English-language Leaders' Debate Tuesday June 15th at
8:00 p.m. ET on CBC Newsworld
- *Don’t vote for Harper and the Conservatives. If you are thinking of voting
for Harper’s Conservative government consider that Sid Noel of the University
of Western Ontario believes "The best place to look for a model for how
Canada would be governed [under Harper] is Ontario under Mike Harris."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040611.wharp12/BNStory/specialDecision2004/
Who the candidates are in your riding:
Find the candidates in your riding, including biographies, and information on
your riding by selecting your province and area at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/elections/fed2004/provincial-list/riding-finder.html
If you’re not sure which riding/area is yours go to the Elections Canada site (http://www.elections.ca/)
and enter your postal code
2) Voting, how to . . .
How to vote:
There are three ways to vote, and each voter can choose any one of the three.
1) You can vote in person at your
polling station on election day. This is how the vast majority of voters
exercise their right to vote.
2) You can vote at an advance poll.
3) Or you can vote by special ballot
either through the mail or in person at the office of the returning officer for
your electoral district. You do not have to give a reason. (This is
particularly useful if you are away from home during the election.)
Voting on Election Day, June 28, 2004:
- You should receive a voting card in the mail that indicates where and when
you can vote. If you have not/do not receive your voting card call you can get
one by calling 1-800-463-6868 or you can register to vote at the polling
station when you go to vote. To register on the spot you need to provide proof
of your identity and residence. You can also register by making a sworn
statement of your identity and residence, and having another voter already
registered in the same polling division accompany and vouch for you.
- In case you need to find out where your polling station is go to the
Elections Canada website (http://www.elections.ca/).
Enter your postal code and view the “voting Process” for your riding. The page
will include accessibility information on the location of your voting station.
- For an outline of what to expect/do at the polling station see:
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=faq&document=faqvoting&lang=e&anchor=voting18&textonly=false#voting20
- If you have difficulty marking your ballot, you can receive help from the
deputy returning officer, or from a friend or family member.
- If you spoil your ballot by making a mistake when you mark it, you can give
it back to the deputy returning officer and get a new one. (You may do this
only once.) Remember, when the ballots are counted the deputy returning officer
must reject any ballot that has not been marked or has been incorrectly marked
by the voter. Rejected ballots are not counted.
Voting in Advance of June 28th:
Advance polling will take place
- Friday, June 18, 2004, 12pm-8pm
- Saturday, June 19, 2004, 12pm-8pm
- Monday, June 21, 2004, 12pm-8pm
To check details and to find out where to go for the advance polling station in
your area go to the Elections Canada website (http://www.elections.ca/).
Enter your postal code and view the information for your riding.
Voting by Special Ballot:
To vote by Special Ballot you need to fill out a registration form and mail or
fax it back to Elections Canada. For information see:
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=ele&document=index&dir=38e/svr&lang=e
How to officially reject your vote:
Unfortunately I did not find information on this but you can ask about this by
calling Elections Canada (1-800-463-6868) or try doing it at the polling
station.
3) Interesting information and links:
- This year, for the first time, your vote can count for party research
funding. Even if the party for whom you vote does not win it will gain research
funds thanks to your support.
- For more info on the political system and the election:
http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/voterstoolkit/index.html
- For a description of the recent changes in the ridings see CBC’s http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/candidatesridings/index.html
- Elections cartoons across Canada: http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/thecampaign/canadavotes_cartoon/index.html
- Election Dictionary of common Canadian political terms and phrases:
http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/voterstoolkit/anelectiondictionary.html
- A History of the Vote in Canada / L'histoire du vote au Canada:
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=gen&document=index&dir=his&lang=e
En Français:
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=gen&document=index&dir=his&lang=f
- In the beginning . . . Canadian Confederation:
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/2/18/index-e.html
- Canadians and their government / Les Canadiens et leur gouvernement:
http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/gouv-gov/index.html
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