Voters Encouraged to Get Ready for the 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2018

VICTORIA – Elections BC is encouraging eligible voters to get ready for the 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform by registering to vote or updating their voter information.

“Make sure you are registered and that your information is up to date, especially if you’ve never registered, moved recently, or changed your name,” says Anton Boegman, Chief Electoral Officer. “If your voter information is current, you will get a referendum voting package in the mail later this fall.”

Voters can register or update their voter information online at elections.bc.ca/ovr, or by calling 1-800-661-8683 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Between now and the end of September a Referendum Information Card will be mailed to every household in the province to raise awareness of the referendum and encourage voters to make sure their voter information is current and accurate. Referendum voting packages will be distributed between October 22 and November 2, 2018.

Elections BC is also encouraging voters to get ready by learning about all four voting systems on the referendum ballot. Neutral information about the voting systems is available at elections.bc.ca/referendum, and Elections BC encourages voters to refer to information from all sides in the debate.

Individuals can vote in the referendum if they are:

• a Canadian citizen,
• 18 or older as of November 30, 2018, and
• a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before November 30, 2018.

For more information, visit elections.bc.ca/referendum.

Attachments:
Backgrounder – 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform
Photo – Referendum Information Card

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Contact:
Andrew Watson
Communications Manager
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Andrew.Watson@elections.bc.ca
Website: elections.bc.ca

Elections BC is an independent, non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for administering electoral processes in B.C. in accordance with the Election Act, Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, Recall and Initiative Act and Referendum Act.

 

BACKGROUNDER
September 10, 2018

2018 REFERENDUM ON ELECTORAL REFORM

• The 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform is being held by mail between October 22 and November 30, 2018.
• The referendum is being held to decide what voting system British Columbia should use for provincial elections.
• Voters will be asked two questions:
  • The first question asks if British Columbia should keep the current First Past the Post voting system, or move to a system of proportional representation.
  • The second question asks voters to rank three proportional systems: Dual Member Proportional (DMP), Mixed Member Proportional (MMP), and Rural-Urban Proportional (RUP).
• If more than half the votes support First Past the Post on the first question, British Columbia’s voting system will stay the same.
• If more than half the votes support proportional representation on the first question, the proportional system with the most support on the second question will be adopted.
• If a proportional voting system is adopted it must be in place for any provincial elections called on or after July 1, 2021.
• In September Elections BC is encouraging voters to get ready for the referendum by registering to vote or updating their voter information. Between now and September 28, a referendum information card will be sent to every household in B.C. to raise awareness of the referendum and encourage voters to make sure their voter information is current and accurate.
  • Referendum Information Card (PDF)
• Referendum voting packages will be mailed to registered voters between October 22 and November 2, 2018. The voting package will include a ballot, a personalized certification envelope, and a postage-paid return envelope.
  • By registering to vote or updating their voter registration in September, voters will help make sure they get a referendum voting package in the mail by November 2, 2018.
  • Eligible voters who do not receive a voting package by November 2, 2018 can still request one from Elections BC until November 23, 2018.
• The referendum is being conducted under the provisions of the Electoral Reform Referendum 2018 Act and the Electoral Reform Referendum 2018 Regulation.
• Two previous referenda have been conducted on the subject of electoral reform in B.C. More information about past referenda is available at elections.bc.ca/referendum/past-referenda.