Voter’s guide to provincial election day in Manitoba

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/09/2019 (2388 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Free Press won’t tell you who to vote for, but it will offer assistance in getting your ballot cast on election day.

The 42nd Manitoba general election is Tuesday, to elect 57 representatives to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Polls are open Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Seven political parties have registered candidates: Communist Party of Canada (Manitoba), Green Party of Manitoba, Manitoba Liberal Party, Manitoba Forward Party, Manitoba First, New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. Candidates across the province are running as independents, as well.

Most parties have platforms available on their websites (links to the party websites are available at www.electionsmanitoba.ca).

To learn more about the candidates running in your area, you can also select your consituency from the red box at the top of this page — we offered all candidates the opportunity to tell our readers about themselves and their platforms. 

Voting eligibility

Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have been living in Manitoba for at least the past six months are eligible to vote Tuesday.

If you are out of the province and have yet to vote, the deadline for absentee voting applications has already passed.

Registering to vote

If you’re not registered to vote (or didn’t get mail from Elections Manitoba confirming you’re on the voters list), you can still cast a ballot on election day by bringing one piece of government-issued identification (such as a driver’s licence, passport or treaty card) or two other documents that include your name (such as a utility bill, Manitoba Health card or credit card).

If you are already on the voters list, but you don’t have ID, you can vote by getting another voter to vouch for you at the voting station. That person must have ID, be voting at the same location as you, and sign an oath confirming your identity. A person can only vouch for one voter.

A full list of acceptable forms of identification is available on the Elections Manitoba website.

Where to vote

New electoral division boundaries were drawn up in time for the 2019 provincial election.

If you’re not sure which riding you reside in, or where you need to go to vote, go to the Elections Manitoba website and enter your address.

You can also call Elections Manitoba at 204-945-3225, or toll-free at 1-866-628-6837.

Accessibility

Elections Manitoba says it has strived to make all polling stations accessible for voters with disabilities or mobility concerns. Voting stations all feature braille ballot templates, as well as large-print candidate lists for those who require them.

If a voting station is inaccessible, voters who are unable to access the building can request the ballot box to be brought to them by an Elections Manitoba officer.

Voting officers will also be attending care facilities and hospitals to give residents and patients the option to vote without having to leave care.

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A permanent address isn’t required to vote: those without one can bring a letter to a voting place from a shelter or agency vouching for them, along with one piece of identification.

Voters can also bring along someone 18 years or older to assist them, and a voting officer can also assist them if needed.

New address, new voter information, name spelled wrong?

No problem: if you have new personal information (such as a new last name) it can be updated at the voting site.

If your current address is different than the one on your voter card, or your name is spelled incorrectly, that can be updated as well, and won’t prevent you from casting a ballot. Forms are available at the voting station to update this information, which will be recorded for future use.

Any of the information on the Elections Manitoba website, such as valid ID or other frequently asked questions, can be answered by calling the phone numbers listed above.