Visual Identification of Voters

[Guest American Woman]

Government of Canada Introduces New Legislation to Confirm the Visual Identification of Voters

Sounds as if Muslim women will be required to remove their veils before voting. So I'm wondering-- are you allowed to vote by mail in Canada like we are in the U.S.? There would be no way to "show [one's] face" when voting by mail, so I'm wondering why it would be necessary in person. And rather than show their face, wouldn't there just be an marked increase in voting by mail (if that is allowed) among those who don't want to show their face? Or would there be a marked decrease in the number of Muslim women voting?

[jdobbin]

Government of Canada Introduces New Legislation to Confirm the Visual Identification of Voters

Sounds as if Muslim women will be required to remove their veils before voting. So I'm wondering-- are you allowed to vote by mail in Canada like we are in the U.S.? There would be no way to "show [one's] face" when voting by mail, so I'm wondering why it would be necessary in person. And rather than show their face, wouldn't there just be an marked increase in voting by mail (if that is allowed) among those who don't want to show their face? Or would there be a marked decrease in the number of Muslim women voting?

The mail in vote would also have to be photo IDed in advance.

Muslim women show their faces in countries where it is required for ID such as a passport or driver's licence. I don't think it will pose a problem.

It is a bit of overkill though since all anyone needed to vote prior was two pieces of ID or a voter's registration card.

[Hydraboss]

Either way...who cares.

This is Canada, follow the rules or get out.

[jdobbin]

Either way...who cares.

This is Canada, follow the rules or get out.

It was a fake issue to begin with. There was never any indication that it had been a problem in the past for any election.

[maldon_road]

It was a fake issue to begin with. There was never any indication that it had been a problem in the past for any election.

In the Quebec by-elections several people showed up to vote with bags over their heads. One way or another it had to be dealt with.

[jdobbin]

In the Quebec by-elections several people showed up to vote with bags over their heads. One way or another it had to be dealt with.

They still had legitimate ID and that was all that was required for voting.

Mail in ballots didn't require visual ID for years. It was never an issue as far as I know. Do you have any citation that it was a problem over the decades?

[old_bold&cold]

They still had legitimate ID and that was all that was required for voting.

Mail in ballots didn't require visual ID for years. It was never an issue as far as I know. Do you have any citation that it was a problem over the decades?

Mail in ballots have lots of time to be checked and double checked. The voters on election day do not have this ability, so yes photo ID and /or voter registration are required. It was an Elections Canada Director, that took it upon himself to interpet the rules and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in a way he thought was best. For a time it did look as though he won, but Harper did exactly as he said he would do and pass the bill for Photo Id and facial ID for all voters. The Elections Canada Director has been put in his place and in a while I think he may be a director of small recycling projects and semptic services. Of course we wil not see this coming

Before any oof you go getting all lathered up about this, remember this was a non-issue util this guy decided he was powerful enough to over ride what the government had said, and in the nit picking of the wording he got his way. He will now of course over time see just what the costs of that were. The same thing happens each and every day in the working world. So this is not different.

[jdobbin]

Mail in ballots have lots of time to be checked and double checked. The voters on election day do not have this ability, so yes photo ID and /or voter registration are required. It was an Elections Canada Director, that took it upon himself to interpet the rules and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in a way he thought was best. For a time it did look as though he won, but Harper did exactly as he said he would do and pass the bill for Photo Id and facial ID for all voters. The Elections Canada Director has been put in his place and in a while I think he may be a director of small recycling projects and semptic services. Of course we wil not see this coming

Checking and re-checking of mail-in ballots still required no visual verification at any time.

As for the Elections Canada commissioner, he was appointed by the Harper government and was fully supported by the Conservatives when he took the position. He wasn't nitpicking. The law as written didn't require visual confirmation. It was poorly written and obviously had to be re-written if the intent was to confirm visual identification of voters.

Edited October 27, 2007 by jdobbin

[maldon_road]

They still had legitimate ID and that was all that was required for voting.

Mail in ballots didn't require visual ID for years. It was never an issue as far as I know. Do you have any citation that it was a problem over the decades?

There is nothing unreasonable in a voter giving visual identification. And if it hasn't been as issue before then it won't be in the future.

[jdobbin]

There is nothing unreasonable in a voter giving visual identification. And if it hasn't been as issue before then it won't be in the future.

As I said, a fake issue.

[Guest coot]

I've grown a beard since my photo ID was taken. Am I going to have to shave to vote?

[ScottSA]

As I said, a fake issue.

Not like the egregiously horrible and highly dangerous <<<<<Holiday Card Scandal>>>>> (reverberating intonation), eh?

[old_bold&cold]

Checking and re-checking of mail-in ballots still required no visual verification at any time.

As for the Elections Canada commissioner, he was appointed by the Harper government and was fully supported by the Conservatives when he took the position. He wasn't nitpicking. The law as written didn't require visual confirmation. It was poorly written and obviously had to be re-written if the intent was to confirm visual identification of voters.

It does not matter who appointed the Elections Canada director, it does matter that like many others I wil refrain from mentioning, he takes a small non issue and see that by the wording and all that stuff can make a large issue about it. Even though he knew the spirit of the ledgislation, he nit picked this, and yes he won, for the time being. But believe me when I say his political life just went on CPR and will not get any real upward mobility any more. That is what happenes to those who thing that just because the wording is one way, they will ignaore the spirit of the thing being another. These type are soon gone and forgotten. That is a fitting end to those who do such things. Don't you think so?

[ScottSA]

I've grown a beard since my photo ID was taken. Am I going to have to shave to vote?

Only if you're a woman.

[sharkman]

Not like the egregiously horrible and highly dangerous <<<<<Holiday Card Scandal>>>>> (reverberating intonation), eh?

Good zinger!

[Fortunata]

It is all for votes. It wasn't a problem but it was an easy fix to pacify those outraged by all the false hype surrounding the issue showing Steve is tough on burkhas.

[jdobbin]

Not like the egregiously horrible and highly dangerous <<<<<Holiday Card Scandal>>>>> (reverberating intonation), eh?

The mailings wouldn't have been an issue for the Tories if they had consent to send them.

[ScottSA]

The mailings wouldn't have been an issue for the Tories if they had consent to send them.

The mailings were an issue for you and one other person. And the veils wouldn't be a problem if the Muslims would remove them.

[Michael Bluth]

The mailings were an issue for you and one other person.

Probably a few others. Maybe ten maximum....

The outrage truly is laughable.

[jdobbin]

The mailings were an issue for you and one other person. And the veils wouldn't be a problem if the Muslims would remove them.

If the mailings weren't an issue, there would be no involvement of the Privacy Commissioner.

As for veils, there was never any indication that Muslim wouldn't remove them if identification was mandatory such as with passports. However, as the law was written, there was never any need for visual identification for voting. All you needed was valid ID or a voter's card.

Edited October 27, 2007 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

That is what happenes to those who thing that just because the wording is one way, they will ignaore the spirit of the thing being another. These type are soon gone and forgotten. That is a fitting end to those who do such things. Don't you think so?

It is a fitting ending for a law that was improperly written for an issue that wasn't an issue.

[Higgly]

Does anybody have a link to this legislation? Thanks.

[Moxie]

It is a fitting ending for a law that was improperly written for an issue that wasn't an issue.

LOL well stated.

[Higgly]

I'd like to hear what the Moslem community has to say on the issue. Does anybody have a link?

Thanks.

[Guest American Woman]

Does anybody have a link to this legislation? Thanks.

What legislation are you referring to?