- Reaction score
- 265
- Points
- 980
I am a Nova Scotian working in Alberta for the winter. I was here when the election was called and planned to vote for my candidate in my home riding, simple thing to do, right? When my notice was received in NS, my girlfriend phoned me with the information I needed to contact Elections Canada so I could vote for my riding in NS from Alberta, not an uncommon thing. I called Elections Canada to clarify the process and was forwarded to the Grande Prairie, AB Elections Canada Office. The gentleman I spoke to was very jovial in telling me that I could drop by any time during their business hours to cast my vote right up until the polls close on election day, "Just come on in and vote, it's that easy, we'll take care of the rest!" he said.
NOT
This evening I went to vote as I may be away on Monday and do not want to leave it to chance. I arrived at the Elections Canada office in the city and was met by some very nice ladies who I informed of my intentions to vote for a candidate in Nova Scotia.
Stunned Silence and confused looks.
I was informed that I could have voted up until Tuesday but that now I was SOL (Obviously not verbatim) I asked if there was any way I could vote and they told me that the only option left was voting in my home riding at my assigned polling station on election day. Hrrmmph. The ladies agreed that I had been misinformed and when I told them that I had spoken to a male they said that there were only two men working in that office. I'm glad I didn't see any men while I was there! Thank God that my Father taught me not to swear in front of a lady because I was ready to lay a strip out right there!
So, I come home and call Elections Canada, they say that someone will get back to me. I plan to compose an e-mail to Elections Canada and my MP, I am sure he'll be interested to know how he lost out on a vote.
Maybe this seems like an over reaction to some but I take very seriously my right to vote. Elections Canada and all the politicians want voters, here I am, can't do a damn thing without a plane ticket but here I am!! I was told at the office that there were ads everywhere telling people of when this magical cut off date was, damn, I didn't see any! Maybe I just should have been told when I called them!
Towards the end of my visit to the Elections Canada office I had calmed down and was talking with the ladies, one of them is from NS, and as I was leaving I told them that if my preference of candidates loses his riding by one vote that I will be back! You have to have some humour somewhere!
NOT
This evening I went to vote as I may be away on Monday and do not want to leave it to chance. I arrived at the Elections Canada office in the city and was met by some very nice ladies who I informed of my intentions to vote for a candidate in Nova Scotia.
Stunned Silence and confused looks.
I was informed that I could have voted up until Tuesday but that now I was SOL (Obviously not verbatim) I asked if there was any way I could vote and they told me that the only option left was voting in my home riding at my assigned polling station on election day. Hrrmmph. The ladies agreed that I had been misinformed and when I told them that I had spoken to a male they said that there were only two men working in that office. I'm glad I didn't see any men while I was there! Thank God that my Father taught me not to swear in front of a lady because I was ready to lay a strip out right there!
So, I come home and call Elections Canada, they say that someone will get back to me. I plan to compose an e-mail to Elections Canada and my MP, I am sure he'll be interested to know how he lost out on a vote.
Maybe this seems like an over reaction to some but I take very seriously my right to vote. Elections Canada and all the politicians want voters, here I am, can't do a damn thing without a plane ticket but here I am!! I was told at the office that there were ads everywhere telling people of when this magical cut off date was, damn, I didn't see any! Maybe I just should have been told when I called them!
Towards the end of my visit to the Elections Canada office I had calmed down and was talking with the ladies, one of them is from NS, and as I was leaving I told them that if my preference of candidates loses his riding by one vote that I will be back! You have to have some humour somewhere!