Student who voted in last election struck from list

Told driver’s licence, health card required

She voted in the last provincial election, but Valérie Lachaîne received two visits to her apartment by revision officers last month to verify whether she was a valid voter.

Lachaîne moved from Chute-à-Blondeau in Ontario in 2011 to attend the Université du Québec à Montréal, where she is studying for a master’s degree in communications. She said she was a bit stunned to see a man and a woman at her door, who said they were returning officers.

They told her they were visiting several people in her Hochelaga-Maisonneuve riding who did not have valid health insurance cards.

“The first time they came, it was to check that I was a valid voter, and then they returned to tell me that my proof of residence was not valid, and that I was taken off the voters’ list,” Lachaîne said.

The first time revision officers visited, they told her she needed two documents, including a Quebec-issued health insurance card or a driver’s licence.

She told the officials she didn’t have those documents, but she provided a T4 slip, and another proof of address to show she had been living in the province for more than six months.

The officers returned three days later to tell her she would not be permitted to vote.

Lachaîne was told if she didn’t like the decision, she could visit the riding’s chief returning officer. When she did, she was told because she didn’t have a driver’s licence or a health card, she couldn’t be included on the list.

She was also told she should not have voted in the last election. And even though revision officers accepted her proof of residency in the last election, she technically committed voter fraud by voting when she was not eligible.

“I was even told that because I am on Ontario’s voting list, it would be illegal for me to vote in two provinces, something I verified and found out (is untrue),” Lachaîne said. “I asked the director to show me the documents that he was referring to, and he refused.”

Under Quebec elections rules, valid voters must prove they are long-term residents, or are domiciled in the prov- ince for at least six months. The concept of domicile is a somewhat subjective term and must be interpreted by revision officers.

Marilyn Brochu, a spokeswoman for the director of elections, confirmed revision officers do visit homes of voters when there is a doubt about their eligibility.

She could not comment on the specific case.