A voter card displaying incorrect hours for voting. (Image Credit: Contributed)

By James Peters

Voter Card Mixup

‘Targeted advertising’ told Kamloops residents of voting hours: Elections Canada

May 2, 2025 | 9:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — Elections Canada says Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies is one of eight ridings across the Canada that spans two time zones. Thus, the riding is highlighted on the agency’s website to make voting times clear.

However, in its response to CFJC Today‘s questions, the agency did not address a mistake made on voter cards distributed to some residents of the riding.

Certain residents received voter cards that listed voting times on general voting day (April 28) as 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Polling stations in the Pacific time zone were actually open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday.

Some voters received a second voter card with corrected times.

Others, like Timothy Hook, went to vote at their assigned polling stations between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on election day but were turned away.

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“It’s BS,” the Valleyview resident said.

Responding to CFJC Today’s questions, an Elections Canada spokesperson confirmed the agency undertook “extra, targeted advertising” to raise awareness of voting hours in Kamloops.

However, the agency did not speak specifically to the reason for the voter card error or how widely incorrect voter cards were distributed.

According to Elections Canada, there were 68,376 total ballots cast in Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies. With 92,185 electors on the list, that means voter turnout was 74.1 per cent.

A total of 320 ballots were rejected for a myriad of reasons as Conservative Mel Arnold was re-elected to his fourth term as a Member of Parliament.