5 Questions about Voting in the Federal Election

Sara Kishawi is a second-year Social Sciences student at Vancouver Island University who hopes to become an international human rights lawyer one day. In the meantime, her job as a Community Relations Officer with Elections Canada is keeping her busy as she helps students get registered to vote. With Election Day less than a month away, she was happy to answer a few questions about voting – and employment opportunities available for students with Elections Canada.

Do you need to get registered to vote? Or will you be voting for a candidate in an Electoral District outside of Nanaimo-Ladysmith and need to vote by special ballot? On Wednesday, October 9 at VIU Residences, Building 4, Sara from Elections Canada will be helping students register to vote from 4-6 pm. For those who need to go to the Electoral Office to vote by special ballot, VIU Residences is offering a free shuttle bus service to the Electoral Office in Nanaimo North Town Centre between 5 and 8 pm. At least two trips will be made during this time frame. There will be a sign-up sheet in Building 4.

If you are unable to make it on October 9, please email skishawi.electionscanada@gmail.com to arrange for free bus tickets to and from the Elections Office.

What does your job as Community Relations Officer with Elections Canada entail? 

A Community Relations Officer's job is to make sure certain community groups who may face barriers in voting in the upcoming election are provided with information and support to help them get registered and vote. My target group is youth, so I am working to make sure all eligible students can register and vote, especially if they are studying away from home.

How can students vote in the 2019 election? 

There is more than one way to vote for students. Students whose current ID shows an address within the boundaries of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Electoral District may vote at the voting place assigned to that address at either advance or general voting days. They may also choose to vote at the District Office. Students whose current ID shows an address outside the boundaries of this Electoral District may either vote by mail or vote in person at the District Office at Nanaimo North Town Centre. Students may check their registration status on the Elections Canada website which will also have the information on the acceptable types of ID.

What do people need to know about Elections Canada that they might not know already? 

Any information anybody might need to register and vote can be found on the Elections Canada website – www.elections.ca.

What kind of employment opportunities with Elections Canada are available for students? 

On general voting day, students can work as election officials at the polling stations. There are different duties that they can do like checking IDs, issuing ballots and such. All roles are paid positions with training. The application for work can be found on the Elections Canada website.

What do you like most about your job? 

I like connecting with new people and making sure that they have an active role in our democracy.