Elections Canada: Canadians Abroad Can Vote in General Election.

Business Editors

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2000

Elections Canada Canadians who reside in Canada but who are traveling abroad during the election period, and also Canadians temporarily residing outside Canada, can vote in the federal general election called for Monday, November 27, 2000, thanks to a mail-in special ballot.

"We encourage Canadians around the world to pick up applications for the mail-in special ballot at any Canadian embassy, high commission or consular office and to send them in right away," said Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.

The mail-in special ballot may be used by:

-- resident Canadian citizens who are away from their ridings, on election day
and during the advance polls on Friday, November 17, Saturday, November 18, and
Monday, November 20, 2000

-- Canadian citizens who have been residing outside Canada for less than five
consecutive years since their last visit home, and who intend to resume their
residence in Canada

The five-year limit does not apply to members of the Canadian Forces, employees of the Public Service of Canada or of a province who are posted outside Canada, electors employed by an international organization of which Canada is a member and to which Canada contributes, or a person who lives with them outside Canada.

Canadians away from their ridings and Canadians residing outside Canada should ask for the registration form and guide called Voting by Canadians Away from Their Electoral Districts. The application form is available on Elections Canada's Web site (www.elections.ca), from all Canadian embassies, high commissions and consular offices, from all returning officers in Canada, or by telephone from 1 800 INFO-VOTE (1 800 463-6868) toll-free in Canada and the United States, 001 800 514-6868, toll-free in Mexico, or [phone] from anywhere in the world.

"If you live outside Canada, time is of the essence to ensure that your vote will count," Mr. Kingsley stressed. "Elections Canada must receive your completed application before 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2000, process it and send you your voting kit, and then you have to make sure that Elections Canada receives your ballot before 6:00 p.m. on election day, Monday, November 27, 2000. You will want to do all this much earlier, the further away you are."

Voters may return their applications, with copies of proof of identity, by fax. The guide that accompanies the application describes what documents proving identity and residence or citizenship are acceptable. The applications may also be forwarded to Elections Canada through Canadian embassies, high commissions, or consular offices.

The voting kit contains the special ballot, which has a blank space where the voter writes in the name of the candidate for whom he or she wishes to vote. The list of candidates will be available at Canadian embassies, high commissions and consular offices on Thursday, November 9, 2000. You can also find out the names of candidates by calling Elections Canada or visiting the Web site.

Elections Canada is the non-partisan agency responsible for the conduct of federal elections and referendums.

This press release is available on the Elections Canada Web site.