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Elections B.C. recommends changes

Report proposes changes to bring in new voting technologies and create a registry of 16-year-old future voters
Voting Oak Bay
Bill Herriot leaves the Monterey Recreation Centre after casting his ballot in the municipal election on Saturday (Nov. 19). Voter turnout was approximately 42 per cent

Elections B.C. released its latest set of recommendations for improvements to the province’s electoral system in a report presented to the Legislative Assembly Monday.

In keeping with its regular practice of re-examing the system after all general elections, the non-partisan organization has made four suggestions for legislators to consider.

In addition to recommendations giving the chief electoral officer more flexibility to determine the best process for confirming eligible voters and to introduce new voting technologies on a pilot basis, the report also suggests the province examine the possibility of allowing provisional voter registration for people as young as 16. The hope is that the practice would encourage a higher turnout of young voters long-term.

A fourth recommendation advises that B.C.’s Election Act be amended to remove all references to the title voting officer, allowing district electoral officers greater discretion to assign duties at voting places.

editor@oakbaynews.com