November 13, 2002

The B.C. Supreme Court today decided that a statutory declaration or sworn affidavit can be one of the two pieces of identification presented on election day November 16, and considered as evidence of identification by election officials.

Justice Robert Powers presided over a court challenge launched by the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) on the Chief Election Officer’s interpretation of Sections 30 (2) and (3) of the Vancouver Charter.

Today’s ruling means that eligible voters who are not yet registered on the City’s Voters List can register on November 16 at their voting place by bringing with them two pieces of identification. One of these pieces of ID can be a statutory declaration or a sworn affidavit (from a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner for taking oaths).

Here are the kinds of ID that are acceptable:

• B.C. Driver’s Licence
• B.C. ID card from Motor Vehicle Branch
• ICBC Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence
• B.C. Care Card
• Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8
• Social Insurance card
• Citizenship Card
• property tax notice
• credit card or debit card
• utility bill for electricity, natural gas, water, telephone or cable services
• welfare cheque stub showing name and ID number
• statutory declaration or sworn affidavit (from a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner for taking oaths).

Justice Powers’ ruling also places the ultimate responsibility for determining that proper ID requirements are met on the Presiding Election Official (PEO) at each voting place, as they must decide whether they are satisfied with the identification presented.

It is the voter’s responsibility to provide proper ID. However, election officials will try to facilitate statutory declarations at the voting place, where possible.

For more information:
Vancouver Election Office
604-873-7681
www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/vote

(c) 2002 City of Vancouver