How To: Vote if You're Homeless

by Apathy is Boring — March 30, 2010

Electoral districts are based on your place of residence, which means that where you live determines where you vote.  So how do you vote if you’re homeless?  Well, it IS possible to vote if you do not have a home.  There are a couple options and while it may seem like there is a lot of work involved, you might be surprised that the process is pretty simple.

Any individual who citizen who wants to vote in Canada needs to register.  Proof of identity and proof of residence need to be presented when you're registering.  The same is true for homeless Canadians. 

Proof of identity is an official document that shows the individual’s name and signature.  If an individual doesn’t have proof of identity, a shelter director can write a letter vouching for them, or a friend who is registered can vouch for someone on polling day.

A shelter where a person has stayed or where they have received food can provide proof of residence.  The director is able to write a letter saying that someone is a resident of the shelter, which can be used as proof of residence when registering to vote.

All Canadians have the right to vote according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  In 2000, the Canadian Elections Act was altered to ensure that homeless Canadians were able to exercise their right to vote. For homelessnation.org, it meant collaborating with a local priest to write affidavits for the neighbourhood’s homeless, and walk them down to the polling station to vote. 
Can your organization or local shelter mobilize to make sure that all your residents get their voices heard?

Share this article on Twitter or Facebook to spread the word and ensure that all Canadians know they have the right to VOTE for their representatives.

Click HERE to read the Canada Elections Act enacted in 2000.