ELECTIONS BC has mailed over 1.5 million voting packages to registered voters in Metro Vancouver for the vote-by-mail 2015 Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit Plebiscite.

What do voters need to know?

Carefully follow the 4-step instructions included in the voting package:

1. On the ballot, the voter should fill in or mark an X or 3 in the circle next to their choice. Do not make any other markings on the ballot or the vote will not be counted.
2. Fold the marked ballot and place it in the grey Secrecy Envelope (A) and seal the envelope.
3. Place the sealed Secrecy Envelope into the brown Certification Envelope (B) with the voter’s name and address on it and seal the envelope. The voter must sign the declaration on the envelope and include their birthdate in the spaces provided, or their vote will not be counted. The voter must use the Certification Envelope with their name and address on it.
4. Place the sealed Certification Envelope into the yellow postage-paid Return Envelope (C) and seal the envelope.

Voters can mail the completed ballot package to Elections BC, or drop it off at one of nine Plebiscite Service Offices that will open on April 13.

A voter can vote only once and cannot use another voter’s voting package.

Elections BC or a Plebiscite Service Office must receive completed ballot packages before 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29.

Registered voters who did not receive a voting package by March 27 can call Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683 or go to elections.bc.ca/ovr before midnight on Friday, May 15 to ask for a voting package.

For voters who may have difficulties receiving mail or need access to in-person services, Elections BC officials at Plebiscite Service Offices will provide information on eligibility and how to participate in the plebiscite, voter registration and voting package issue services, and a local drop point for completed ballot packages.

As in an election, voters with no fixed address can use the address of a service facility that they regularly visit as their residential address to vote in the plebiscite.

If a voter makes a mistake on their ballot or Certification Envelope, they can call Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683 to ask for a replacement voting package.

A Braille translation of the ballot and a cardboard Braille voting template are available for sight-impaired voters by calling Elections BC or at a Plebiscite Service Office.

Canada Post is Elections BC’s partner in delivering voting packages to voters and delivering completed ballot packages to Elections BC. To ensure their ballots are counted, voters should mail their completed ballot package to allow time for the package to reach Elections BC before 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29. Alternately, voters can drop off their completed ballot package at one of the nine Plebiscite Service Offices. Once a completed ballot package is put in the mail or dropped off at an Elections BC Plebiscite Service Office, the voter has voted.

For more information, visit elections.bc.ca/plebiscite or call 1-800-661-8683.