Québec, April 30, 2003 –– On the occasion of the new election to be held on May 20 in the electoral division of Champlain, Quebec’s Chief Electoral Officer, Mr.Marcel Blanchet, wishes to inform people who are hospitalized or residing in an establishment recognized by the Act respecting health and social services (reception centre, hospital centre or long-term residential care centre) that special measures will be implemented to facilitate the exercise of their right to vote.
Electors living in institutions located in the electoral division of Champlain and who are unable to move about will be able to vote directly in their room. To do so, they simply have to apply by phoning the office of the returning officer. They may also apply by completing the registration form in the leaflet entitled “If you are unable to move about …”, which is available in each of the health establishments concerned, and by sending the completed form to the office of the returning officer whose address is indicated on the leaflet
Mr. Blanchet would like to insist that the electors who wish to take advantage of this measure should proceed as soon as possible. Indeed, if the electors concerned are already entered on the list of electors at the address of the place where they are hospitalized or residing, their application must be received at the office of their returning officer by May 8, 2003.
However, if they are not entered on the list of electors at this address, they must first be entered on the list of electors using the abovementioned form and, on the same form, indicate their intention to vote from their room. Their request must be received by May 6, 2003.
Once these steps are completed, electors who have applied for this voting measure will have members of the electoral staff visit their rooms on May 11 and 12, 2003, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in order for these electors to cast their votes.
It is important to remember that this measure is intended only for electors hospitalized or residing in establishments recognized by the Act respecting health and social services. Consequently, the measure does not apply to electors hospitalized or residing in private establishments.
More information may be obtained by contacting the office of the returning officer for the electoral division in question, by consulting the Chief Electoral Officer’s website (www.electionsquebec.qc.ca), or by contacting the Information Centre at the following numbers:
(418) 528-0422 – calls from the Québec City region
1 888 ÉLECTION (1 888 353-2846) – calls from other regions
(418) 646-0644 or 1 800 537-0644 – TDD service
Source: Jean-Yves Ozenne
Information Officer
(418) 644-3320 or 1 888-870-3320
