How to get assistance to vote

Assistance is available for the following circumstances:

Assistance to mark your ballot

If you need help to mark your ballot (because of physical disability or difficulties with reading or writing) ask for the Presiding Election Official (PEO) in charge at the voting place.  All Election Officials must take an oath to preserve the secrecy of the ballot, so they can help you if required.  Either the Election Official can help you or you can bring someone you know to the voting place to help you. This person will have to take an oath of secrecy that will be given by the PEO.

Curbside voting

If you are physically unable to enter the voting place, you may ask to vote near the voting place, and an Election Official will come to you. (This is often called "curbside voting").

Translation or interpretation

If you have difficulty speaking, reading or understanding English, your voting place may have people with fluency in languages other than English who can help you. Ask at the voting place. You may also bring your own translator, who would be required to take an oath of secrecy given by the PEO.

Special voting opportunities

The City provides special voting opportunities in medical or assisted-living facilities for electors who:

• have a physical disability, illness, or injury that affects their ability to vote at another voting opportunity; and
• are patients in an acute care hospital or residents of a personal care home, long term care facility, or special residential care facility registered under the Community Care Facility Act of British Columbia that is situate in the city and that provides accommodation for 50 or more persons who qualify as electors but who are otherwise unable to vote at another voting opportunity.

A schedule of special voting opportunities will be posted in the eligible facilities.  For information about the locations of special voting opportunities, contact the Vancouver Election Office at 604.873.7681 or email voter.questions@vancouver.ca.

Voting by mail

You may vote by mail if

• you have a physical disability, illness or injury that affects your ability to vote at another voting opportunity, or
• you expect to be absent from the City on general voting day and at the times of all advance voting opportunities.

More information about voting by mail

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