Judge rules voters' rights at risk

Dear Sheryn,

Just minutes ago, the ruling on our legal injunction against the Harper Conservatives’ so-called “Fair” Elections Act was released.

While concluding that there is a risk that some people will be unable to vote in this October’s federal election because of strict new identification rules, Justice David Stinson of the Ontario Superior Court declined to grant the injunction to overturn it before a full hearing can be held.

In a strong verdict, the judge wrote that “based on the evidence to date, there is a risk that some individuals who would otherwise rely on the Voter Information Card to enable them to vote will be unable to do so due to s.46(3), which would result in irreparable harm due to their inability to exercise their right to vote in that fashion.”

But ultimately, the court was restricted by past cases: “established principles... dictate that the court should not stay the operation of the disputed law without a full hearing on the merits.”

This is just the beginning of our legal battle. Our full constitutional challenge won’t be tried until after this October’s election.
 
In the meantime, tens of thousands of eligible voters – mostly students, seniors, aboriginals and the disabled – could be denied their constitutional right to cast their ballots this fall.

And that is a big political advantage for the Harper Conservatives in a tight election race.

So it’s gut-check time. We can either hang our heads, or we can get to work. You know what Stephen Harper, Pierre Poilievre and the rest of the Conservative Party want us to do: give up.

You and I know that’s not in the Council of Canadians’ DNA. We will fight on, more determined than ever to get people out to vote this October and stop Stephen Harper’s regressive government once and for all.

Thanks to incredible supporters like you across the country, the Council’s “Go Vote” campaign is gaining steam every day towards achieving that very goal.

There’s no time to waste. The election is in just 94 days. And while today’s ruling has made our job a bit harder, it’s also more urgent than ever.

It’s critical that we boost our voter education and engagement strategies to reach these most vulnerable voters.

But I need your help today to make that happen.

With a gift of $10, $50 or even $100, you will directly fund the distribution of online and print materials, like voter’s guides and “how-to” kits to ensure everyone from students to seniors can cast an informed ballot in October. You can help get these powerful materials into the hands of those who need them most!

READ MORE: http://www.e-activist.com/ea-campaign/action.handleViewInBrowser.do?ea.campaigner.email=rhN8CpSnAJ9kn49SkBa7%2FHpMgboc2Cjb&broadcastId=82577&templateId=58748