If elected to city council and the school board on Oct. 20, the New West Progressives candidates commit to implementing a series of key measures to improve voter turnout in time for the 2022 civic election.
These measures are in direct response to the lack of information being provided to voters for the current civic election and restrictions imposed regarding how New Westminster residents can cast their ballot.
The NW Progressives plan to increase voter turnout and engagement includes:
- Ensuring the Chief Electoral Officer has the necessary funds to distribute at least one printed voter card to each registered voter in New Westminster. The voter card will include key information in several other languages besides English, including Punjabi, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
- Utilizing a new 311 call centre to better disseminate voter information in multiple languages outside regular city hall business hours.
- Amending the sign by-law to allow candidates to extend the time candidates can put up signs on private property so it is in line with other Metro Vancouver municipalities.
- Offering city-owned meeting space free of charge to resident groups, business associations and other community groups willing to host an all-candidates debate.
- Regularly publishing and promoting in our local newspaper and through social media the entire list of all-candidate debates occurring within the community.
- Working to introduce a program in our schools to conduct a city-wide mock municipal election similar to what takes place for provincial and federal elections.
- Setting a target of increasing voter turnout by at least 5 per cent for each of the next two civic elections
- Working through the Union of BC Municipalities to lobby the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act to allow residents to complete a write-in ballot if they are unable to vote during the advance polls or on Election Day.
“At the homes we visit, our team is definitely hearing about how the lack of a printed voter card is lowering voter awareness regarding how and when people can vote,” says Ellen Vaillancourt, council candidate. “Print advertisements are an effective way of getting out the message. In addition, they are not inclusive of the entire community and leave out a huge segment of our rapidly diversifying population.\”
“Our schools can also play a huge impact in helping to raise voter awareness,” says Lisa Falbo, school trustee candidate. “I have no doubt that students who are engaged in the election will go home and encourage their parents and older siblings to cast their ballots on Election Day.”