Voting reminder
So I received a reminder about voting, and this time at least it has my name in bold type, although it’s still over on the right and the form is now addressed “À l’électeur/trice / To the elector” rather than to just Occupant.
Voting days are this coming weekend and the next. The form tells you where the advance and regular polls will be.
However, a regular reader points this out:
While the English side reminds us to bring a pen or pencil, the corresponding block on the French side also says – rather crucially – “ainsi qu’une pièce d’identité,” which the English does not.
(If it’s like other elections, people like me, who have no driver’s licence, may also need to show something proving our address. I brought a bank statement with me to the federal poll for this purpose, but they didn’t even ask to see it, nor did they make me remove my mask for identification.)
(I am also curious why my form says “Mc Donnell Catherine (68)”. I am not 68 and have no idea what this number indicates. A line number maybe? Also, why do some authorities feel a need to put a space after the Mc? Many questions.)
EmilyG 19:55 on 2021-10-27 Permalink
And the English part says “or EVEN a lead pencil,” whereas the French side doesn’t have the “even” and I guess doesn’t seem to think there’s anything unusual about a pencil.
mare 23:01 on 2021-10-27 Permalink
There’s a big confusing design error in it though.
The first section has two columns next to a big number 1, with three paragraphs on the left in French, and three paragraphs on the right in English. Each paragraph starts with a big arrow.
But in the second section, with a big number 2, both columns have French *and* English in them, and each column has a different date and polling place. (On the left for advance polling, at the right the actual voting).
So if you have figured out that the right column is for English and follow it down, suddenly the text changes into French. It even threw me off, and I’m pretty bilingual. Old people and people who don’t read very well (a large part of the Quebec population is functional illiterate) must be confused. It’s almost like the francophone population has to vote on another weekend than anglophones.
Kate 09:07 on 2021-10-28 Permalink
mare, you’re right. Whoever works in graphic design for the city is not exactly focused on usability issues – and they’re not even proofreading carefully. That omission of a mention of bringing ID ought to have been caught right away.
EmilyG 11:40 on 2021-10-28 Permalink
Ah, it does say in English that you need to bring ID, but on the other side (where it also says it again in French.)
SMD 09:28 on 2021-10-29 Permalink
I think the 68 refers to your number on their list, so that if you bring the paper in it is easier for the pool workers to find you. Your neighbours are likely #67 and #69 (within your overall poll, which is typically a block or so).