Polling station for homeless cancelled

Outreach workers at Boyle Street Community Services in Edmonton’s inner city are disappointed a mobile polling station was cancelled by Elections Alberta just days before the election.

Leanne Warrenchuk, a support worker, said she was in contact with the returning officer for Edmonton-Centre days after the election was called in early April. The returning officer gave the agency the green light for a mobile poll, which operates for limited hours on voting day.

“Our intention was to make it easier for the homeless population, for our Boyle Street community, to vote,” Warrenchuk said.

But Tuesday, the returning officer contacted Warrenchuk to say that provincial legislation doesn’t allow a mobile poll at Boyle Street. The potential was discussed for a regular polling station to operate at the facility instead, but that too was ruled impossible because of the short notice, Warrenchuk said.

Elections Alberta spokesman Drew Westwater said while the returning officer initially approved the mobile poll, she did so mistakenly. Under the Elections Act, only in-patient treatment centres such as hospitals or supportive living facilities qualify for a mobile poll.

Warrenchuk said the decision is disheartening because she has spent the last three weeks informing the centre’s clients they could vote there Tuesday.

“What made us happy about having the polling station here is this is a comfortable, safe place for our community, she said. “They’re often discriminated against in other places. Going to a regular poll is uncomfortable ... and it can be very intimidating, so we’re afraid that people who were going to vote here are not going to want to vote anymore.”

Westwater said Elections Alberta will continue to encourage members of the homeless community to cast a ballot May 5 by providing posters to the agency directing voters to the nearest polling station.

Two of the biggest barriers to voting for the homeless are proving their residency and finding transportation to the polling station, Warrenchuk noted. She said the community centre will still help its clients vote by providing a form for those who don’t have identification, which allows a voter to declare they are a resident in the province. She’s also busy coordinating staff who can provide rides for people who do want to vote next week. mibrahim@edmontonjournal.com