Tens of thousands of Canadians living abroad, including those who did not return home due to the pandemic, have applied for remote voting in Canada. The upcoming elections.
More than 45,000 Canadians have registered for mail-in ballots from abroad because experts predict that there will be a record number of overseas residents voting in the upcoming elections.
However, the embassy warned that delays in the postal system due to COVID-19 may hinder the ability of foreigners to vote in a timely manner on polling day.
Some diplomatic positions offer to send ballots back to Ottawa in time before the election.
Guide to Voting in Canadian Elections: Everything you need to know about federal voting in 2021
It is estimated that 2.8 million adult Canadians living abroad are eligible to vote, provided that they can provide a previous address and proof of citizenship.
They must register to vote with the Canadian Election Bureau, and their ballots must arrive in Ottawa by 6 pm on Election Day.
The Canadian Diaspora Association, which represents overseas Canadians, predicts that the number of overseas Canadians who voted during the COVID-19 pandemic will “slightly increase” compared to the more than 30,000 Canadians from overseas who voted in the last election.
The Hong Kong Consulate, where approximately 300,000 Canadians live, is one of the diplomatic agencies that provide completed mailed ballots to Ottawa by express delivery.
Hong Kong diplomats have been actively contacting Canadians to inform them how to register to vote and the deadline for voting.
In New Zealand, the Canadian High Commission has warned Canadians who wish to vote for delays in postal services due to the new crown virus.
The High Commission warned that “Due to the pandemic, New Zealand Post’s delays are longer than usual.” In order to send ballots to Ottawa before the voting day deadline, Canadians can mail the ballots to the High Commission in advance, and the High Commission will pay The cost of sending it to Canada.
It also warns that to receive ballots, Canadians should “ensure that you can safely access the address you provided to the Canadian Election Agency (the address where your ballot was sent) during the lockout period.”
Canadians who live abroad during the election can register to vote online in the electoral district where they last lived. They will receive the ballot papers and send them back to Ottawa in a prepaid envelope.
The Canadian Election Agency has warned overseas voters that they must register to vote by September 14.
A spokesperson said: “We encourage voters who are interested in voting to apply as soon as possible.” “These ballots need to be returned to Ottawa by 6 pm Eastern Time on Election Day.”
Allan Nichols, chief executive of the Canadian Association of Diasporas, said he expects a “slight increase” in the number of overseas votes from overseas in this election.
“Of the 2.8 million Canadians overseas, very few can exercise the right to vote,” he said. “But having the right to vote is especially important.”
In the 2019 election, 34,144 Canadians voted from overseas, the highest number on record. This is the first time that all Canadians living abroad are allowed to participate in a public opinion survey, because the law is amended to extend the right to vote to all overseas Canadians, no matter how long they are abroad.
© 2021 Canadian Press
