Removing barriers to help Winnipeg’s marginalized communities vote next week

As people prepare to go to the ballot boxes next week, some advocates say work is underway to reduce obstacles for members of the marginalized community so they can vote. However, some say more needs to be done. Morgan Modjeski reports.

By Morgan Modjeski

Community groups are working with the City of Winnipeg to remove barriers for those in marginalized communities to vote in next week’s municipal election.

But they say more needs to be done to ensure everyone can exercise their democratic right.

To cast a ballot on Oct. 26, most will have to have one piece of government ID – like a driver’s licence – or two pieces of authorized ID that provide name and current address.

But for many in Winnipeg who do not have a home or are living in a shelter, voting can be a challenge.

Caryn Birch with Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY), which helps people obtain IDs and documents, says it’s not always easy.

“What we’re seeing across Winnipeg is there is an increase in our homeless population,” said Birch. “And with this population increasing, it also means that access to other services – including your IDs – is limited. There’s a million reasons for that, but it does mean things like voting become that much more difficult.”


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Birch says the city has been reducing barriers at the ballot box, working with organizations like RAY directly to get official information to the frontline.

“It’s so much more important to have it come from them than the non-profit itself,” said Birch. “And we’ve seen a lot of this happening lately. There’s faces to put to names. There’s more information out there. And again, they’re helping to create more barrier-free opportunities for the population at large to have the opportunity to vote, which is incredible.”

However, some people still feel the voices of the city’s most vulnerable are not being heard.

“What they feel is they don’t get equal opportunity to do so and that makes them feel excluded,” said Kim Hewitt with Lighthouse Mission.

Hewitt says she’s heard from people who want to vote but are unable to do so, adding more needs to be done to inform people they can participate.

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Hewitt believes if members of Winnipeg’s more marginalized community came out to vote, it could tip the scales on Wednesday.

“People want their voices to be heard and they should have the right to do so, and I think that would change the whole dynamics of the election,” she said.

The city says people without a fixed address can vote by taking an oath, and has partnered with several organizations like Ray and the Siloam Mission to reduce barriers to get to the ballot box.

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