Elections BC, AMS to host on-campus polling stations

Students can vote in BC’s provincial election on campus before and on election day.

In collaboration with Elections BC, the AMS will provide four polling stations near UBC. Advance voting is available at the Nest on October 15 and 16. Final day-of voting will be available on October 19 at the Nest and University Hill Secondary School.

In a statement to The Ubyssey, AMS VP External Ayesha Irfan said the AMS recognizes the importance of providing on-campus voting.

“The goal was to provide students with a convenient and accessible voting space right here in their very own student union building,” she wrote.

Dr. Max Cameron, a professor at UBC who specializes in constitutionalism, democracy and political ethics, also spoke of the importance of accessibility in voting in an interview with The Ubyssey.

“Convenience helps to encourage people to vote,” he said. “So the more opportunities people have [to vote] and [the] more convenient, [the] better.”

The last time polling stations were on campus was for the 2021 federal election, which saw initial uncertainty on the availability of on-campus polling stations.

Irfan said the AMS expects a high voter turnout this year because it is promoting the election through hosting an Elections BC booth, an elections trivia night and a debate watch party.

“We will also be boothing in first-year residences to engage students who may be voting for the first time ever,” Irfan wrote. “These efforts make us optimistic about achieving a strong turnout this year.”

In addition to the lack of voting stations present for the 2021 federal election, many students also struggled to vote because of registration issues and wait times of up to three hours.

Irfan said the AMS still anticipates long wait times this year, and wrote that “while the voting process itself is expected to be quick, with a campus of 61,000 students, some delays are inevitable.”

She said wait times would reach their peak during the popular voting hours of 12–3 p.m., and the AMS is taking measures to address potential wait times like encouraging students to vote during off-peak hours and to take advantage of advance voting.

“The AMS hopes [these measures] will further reduce wait times and keep the lines moving efficiently.”

— With files from Viyan Handley

This article is part of The Ubyssey's 2024 provincial elections coverage.