The B.C. government have announced the process by which British Columbians will cast their ballot in the HST referendum vote this summer.
Elections BC, a non-partisan office of the legislature, will be conducting the referendum.
The referendum question will be: “Are you in favour of extinguishing the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) and reinstating the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in conjunction with the GST (Goods and Services Tax)? Yes/No.”
On Monday, June 13, Elections BC will start mailing out referendum ballots for the HST to all registered voters. The timeline shows an expectation that by Friday, June 24, the majority of British Columbians will have received the ballot.
Friday, July 8, will be the last day for unregistered voters to request a ballot from Elections BC.
Deadline of Friday, July 22, 4:30 p.m. (local time), is when completed ballots must be received by mail by Elections BC or in person by a Service BC centre.
It will take several weeks for Elections BC to count the ballots.
Results of the vote are expected in August.
British Columbians who are not registered voters for a provincial election, or who have moved since the last election and have not updated their voter record, will need to request a ballot from Elections BC.
Attorney General Barry Penner says, “Most British Columbians will have their ballot by June 24 and can begin weighing this very important decision. Voters will need to remember that, to be counted, they must make sure their ballots are mailed in time to be received by Elections BC before the close of voting at 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday, July 22 or deliver their completed ballot to a Service BC centre by the same deadline.”
For more information on the HST, visit: www.hstinbc.ca
For more information on Elections BC, visit: www.elections.bc.ca