Initiative to change voting opportunities in provincial elections
Currently in a provincial election there are many opportunities to vote before election day, including advance voting and voting by mail. This initiative proposes removing almost all advance voting options and the option to vote by mail. The proposed changes would require almost all voters to vote at their assigned voting place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on election day. The draft Bill preserves some absentee voting opportunities, including absentee voting by mail for members of the armed forces and others designated by the Chief Electoral Officer.
Election Act One-Day Voting Amendment Act
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:
[Remove all references to alternative absentee voting.]
Part 6 – Voting
Division 1 – Voting Opportunities
1 Section 73 (e) is repealed.
2 Section 102 is repealed.
3 Section 103 is repealed.
4 Section 104 is transferred to Division 4 as 104.
5 Section 105 is repealed.
6 Section 106 is repealed.
7 Section 107 is repealed.
8 Section 108 is amended
(a) in section name by striking out “alternative absentee voting” and substituting “absentee voting”
(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “alternative”
(c) in subsection (3) by striking out “alternative”
(d) in subsection (7) by striking out “alternative”
(e) by transferring to Division 4 section 101
9 Division 4 is amended
(a) by adding the sub-heading of amended section 108 “Special provision of absentee voting packages for armed forces and others” to section 101
(b) by renumbering 108 (1) as 101 (4)
(c) by renumbering 108 (2) as 101 (5)
(d) by renumbering 108 (3) as 101 (6)
(e) by renumbering 108 (4) as 101 (7)
(f) by renumbering 108 (5) as 101 (8)
(g) by renumbering 108 (6) as 101 (9)
(h) by renumbering 108 (7) as 101 (10)
10 Section 1 is amended
(a) by striking out “alternative absentee voting means voting under Division 5 of Part 6;”
Part 6 – Voting
Division 1 – Voting Opportunities
11 Section 73 (b) is repealed.
12 Section 76 is repealed.
13 Section 97 is repealed.
14 Section 1 is amended
(a) by striking out “advance voting means voting under section 97 at an advance voting opportunity for the electoral district for which an individual is a voter;”
(b) by striking out “advance voting opportunity means a voting opportunity under section 76;”
(c) in definition “voting place” by striking out “or under section 76 for an advance voting opportunity”
15 Commencement
The provisions of this Act come into force on the date of Royal Assent.