Many Elphinstone residents will have to drive, bus or ride more than 10 kilometres in order to vote in Tuesday's federal election.
Due to no spaces being available in the community, the 455 residents required to vote at polling station 073 are being directed to the Roberts Creek Community School."In a federal election, you must vote at your assigned polling station," said Susan Friend, Elections Canada's B.C. media relations officer.
Frank West Hall on Chaster Road is unavailable, she said, and Cedar Grove Elementary School can't be used "for security reasons," since the gym is accessible only through the school, and the election will occur on a school day.
"When a returning officer is told there's no space available, there's no space available," said Friend. "Every possible venue has been checked out. There's no provision to merge with any [other] polling station."
Elections Canada appears to have overlooked the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, which won't be used as a polling station. Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Elphinstone director Lorne Lewis and area residents attempted to have Frank West Hall reinstated as the polling station, but were unsuccessful. In past federal and provincial elections, the hall has been a default location for voters.
"Some of us did put in a fair bit of work to try to get it changed," he said. "We did clear up that the hall could be available if Elections Canada wanted it, but by that time it was too late - everything was in print. Elections Canada had by then done enough research to realize the Gibsons and Area Community Centre (GAACC) could be used as a polling station."
GAACC was contacted by returning officer Lisa Frost, but a miscue at the front desk meant no attempt was made to make a space available.
"We've since put a communication in that if Elections Canada calls, we'll do our best to move rooms around," said the centre's office co-ordinator.
Voters' cards were sent out between Sept. 17 and 19 and clearly indicate voters need to go to the school in Roberts Creek to vote.
"People are concerned about this," said Vel Anderson, president of the Elphinstone Electors' Association. "Senior people who may not have a vehicle will have to rely on others [in order] to vote."
Bus service can transport voters as close as the Roberts Creek General Store, but Anderson noted that could still mean an uphill walk in the rain for seniors.
"We have to question whether Elections Canada was wise in looking at their old locations," she said. "They should rely on local organizations to give them information."
Under sections 158 and 159 of the Canada Elections Act, voters can be issued a transfer certificate, which allows voters to cast a ballot at a polling station other than where they would normally be allowed to vote. However, that won't solve the problem for most of the residents assigned to polling station 073.
The certificate is limited to a few special cases. A candidate running in the election can obtain one, as can an election officer. If their assigned polling station doesn't have level access, a physically-disabled person can get a transfer certificate allowing them to vote at an accessible station. Voters whose poll station has been relocated after their voter card arrives also get the certificate.
Lewis said Elections Canada has indicated they'll provide him with signage to be put up at Frank West Hall directing voters to the Roberts Creek location.
