Voting as an Expat
It is official- Prime Minister Harper has asked for parliament to be dissolved and has called for the 40th Canadian General Election. The date has been set for October 14th, 2008.
This is an opportunity for Canadians that are living abroad to directly influence how the Canadian government view them. An estimated 2.7 million Canadians live abroad. However, as John Ausman, former Canadian Foreign Service officer and now member of the Canadian Expat Association points out “fewer than 40,000 Canadians living abroad chose to participate in 2006.” “The government would have to sit up and pay attention to matters that concern us, such as more efficient passport service, registrations of birth abroad, legal protection (eg. a more consistent policy on whether we oppose capital punishment of Canadians by others) and better planning of emergency evacuations or other assistance in times of trouble.” These issues are of key importance to all Canadian Expats.
To cut to the chase, this article should be considered a primer on the process of casting your vote as a Canadian living abroad. It really is a simple process, but after wading through the pages and pages of information on the Elections Canada website you are left with the impression that it is a difficult and long drawn out procedure.
First let’s break it down into two parts. Part 1 - Registration & Part 2 - Voting
Registration
Elections Canada needs to send you a ballot package and make sure that your name doesn’t appear on some voting list somewhere else back here in Canada. For this, they need you to register with them. Please note that even if an election is not called you should still register. Registered individuals will automatically receive a notice and ballot package in the mail if and when an election is called.
Every Canadian Citizen including those living abroad is entitled to one vote as long as they are able to meet a couple of criteria.
- 1) You can claim that Canada is currently NOT your primary country of residence
- 2) You are 18 or older on the day of election
- 3) You lived in Canada sometime before registering
- 4) You have been outside of Canada for less than five years
- 5) You plan on returning to Canada at some point in the future.
Keep in mind that the Canadian government is trusting on you, the voter to be honest about the above statements. At this point there is no way for Elections Canada to verify if the statements you make on the registration form are accurate or not. In no way shape or form does the Canadian Expat Association suggest or condone the fraudulent activity of responding incorrectly on the registration form.
If you can say that the above five statements apply to you, you’re in. You can register. Just follow these simple steps.
- 1) Download a two page application from Elections Canada website or get the registration form at an Embassy, consulate, high commission or Canadian Forces Base.
- a. Download the form here: Elections Canada Registration
- 2) Fill the form out as accurately as possible
- 3) Mail it in, Fax it in or drop it off at an Embassy, Consulate, High Commission or Canadian Forces base.
- 4) Elections Canada will send a ballot package back to you by mail.
You are now officially registered. However, you have not voted yet. Here’s what you need to do next.
Voting
- 1) Fill out the information on the ballot as accurately as possible.
- a. Note that this Special Ballot requires you to indicate which riding you want your vote to count in. This means the location that you would normally be living in Canada. You also need to know which candidate you will be voting for as it is your responsibility to write that name on the ballot. This information can be obtained by visiting the Elections Canada web site or even by contacting the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate.
- 2) Send the Ballot to Ottawa. You can also drop the ballot off at the nearest Embassy, Consulate, High Commission or Canadian Forces base. You cannot fax your ballot in.
- a. Note that it is important that your ballot arrive on time. This means that it must arrive in Ottawa by 6pm on Polling day.
That’s it. You have now made your voice heard.
We cannot stress the importance enough of voting as an Expat. This is a huge body that for the most part is ignored. Decisions are made daily that affect the lives and safety of Canadians living abroad. The Department of Foreign Affairs has a budget that has been shrinking, passport service is slow, Canadian artists’ trying to bring Canadian culture to the global stage have had the rug pulled out from beneath them. Take a stand. Exercise your right. Vote!
Links for more information:
Application for registration and special ballot: http://www.elections.ca/ins/svr/ec78600_e.pdf
Instructions for completing the registration form: http://www.elections.ca/ins/svr/ec78600_instructions_e.pdf
Voting by special ballot information: http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=gen&document=ec90540&dir=bkg&lang=e&textonly=false
I would imagine that one of the reasons for such poor expat-voter participation is the difficult issue of trying to establish/maintain non-residency for tax purposes. Surely voting in Canadian elections is evidence of a strong tie with the country? It’s not a risk I would want to run even though it makes me feel like a stateless individual.
As someone who managed to move from Canada to a *higher* taxation country, I wouldn’t half mind! However, my discussions with Elections Canada seemed to imply that no comment was made. That, in fact, by registering under these rules, you were only confirming that you were a Canadian citizen *resident abroad* - that you couldn’t possibly qualify to vote in this manner if you were NOT resident abroad.
Another issue - what address in Canada to cite on your form - was finally answered honestly by a fantastic lady at Elections Canada in Ottawa. At first (via a call centre), I was told that I had to use my address immediately previous to leaving Canada. However, reading the Elections Act seemed to contradict that, so I followed up. In reality, *any* address in Canada that we declare to be the one with which we have the strongest connection is acceptable - but you can’t change during your five years of eligibility. So if you think that you’re going to chose strategically (maybe you think that your previous riding is an “automatic” for one party or other - so you pick your brother’s riding, or your University’s), watch out, because it might not be the same situation the next election. Thus, I ended up chosing the riding I grew up in (and in which my parents still live), because I’m most familiar with the issues there, regardless of what the actual tactical situation is in one election or another.
Ashley
Ulsteinvik, Norway
I’m on the same page as you Judy - I’ve lived abroad since 2000 and a non-resident for tax purposes. Though I hope to return to Canada in the future when I reach the stage of my career when I get a permanent job, since I’m an academic it may be a few years until I am there and in the meantime I cannot vote, in Canada or anywhere else. I am frustrated that Elections Canada has disenfranchised me as a voter with the 5 year rule, as a citizen surely I should have this right?
La règle du 5 ans est sans fondement. Je vis en Suisse depuis 13 ans et pendant plusieurs années je n’ai eu le droit de voter nulle part.C’est très frustrant. Avec tous les moyens de communication dont nous disposons aujourd’hui, nous sommes aussi bien informés des enjeux sociaux, politiques et économiques touchant notre pays d’origine que les canadiens qui y résident toujours. Les Etats-Unis et la France reconnaissent le droit de vote à leurs resortissnats vivant à l’étranger.Peut-être que le chef du parti libéral canadien serait sensible à ce débat, lui qui a vécu longtemps à l’étranger?