Sign: Ensure Appropriate Access to Voting
Due to 62% cuts approved by Vancouver City Council, the recent byelection saw long lineups, with wait times of up to three hours in some cases.
While the weather was fortunately good on election day, these wait times nonetheless discouraged voting. Given that the byelection took place during a notably rainy time of year for the region, these cuts were all the more reckless. The combination of poor weather and long lineups could have significantly reduced voter turnout.
The handling of the byelection generated condemnation across the political spectrum, and has been referred to by many as a form of voter suppression. The city has a responsibility to facilitate and encourage participation in the democratic process, not to discourage it through reducing access and ease of voting.
We call on Vancouver City Council to conduct an independent review of the byelection, and ensure that this does not happen again. With a general election coming up next year proper access to voting is restored.
If you agree, please sign!