Pre-registration of teens on B.C. voters list one proposal for election upgrade
VICTORIA — Allowing 16- and 17-year-olds in British Columbia to pre-register on the provincial voters list is one of several recommendations from the chief electoral officer now being considered by the legislature.
Keith Archer says in a report to the legislature that teens who register in advance would automatically be added to the voters list when they turn 18, and that would have a positive effect on voter turnout.
Archer also urges legislators to consider allowing greater access to personal information so electoral officials can ensure the voters list is kept up to date.
The report does not seek an end to paper ballots, but recommends the use of electronic poll books and ballot tabulators to make voting day more efficient as ballots are handed out and collected.