Elections Canada Issues

Elections Canada hasn't been the best with handling trans people's name changes in the past, but they have improved (even if it doesn't feel like it)

I received a Voter Information Card in my deadname

You'll need to fix this so you don't have an annoying conversation with a poll worker explaining that you're trans.

Option 1 - Phone Call

1. Have your VIC handy.

2. Call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868. For accessible options / to verify this number, see Other ways of contacting Elections Canada (TDD, Video Relay, language interpretation, etc)

3. Tell them the numbers on the lower right of the front of your voting card (the side with your name and address on it) these are your Polling Division and Sequence Number which lets them look you up.

4. Explain you've had this issue for x years.

5. Ask them to search for a voter record in your deadname, if so, to correct it 

6. Ask them to make sure you don't have multiple voter records. If you have multiple VICs, you do.

7. Ask if they can see if they're being sent your deadname from one of their data sources. 

Not all agents will have this info, some do. 

Be nice to them, many are new to the job and they probably don't understand how multiple databases feeding into other databases work. Ask for a supervisor if you think you need to. It might be a call back.

Option 2 - If the phone call in previous years failed.

1. Go to the Elections Canada Contact Us page, click the red "Contact us form" button, click "Member of the public"

2. Use this sample letter.

Hi, 

I received a Voter Information Card in my former legal name. 

I legally changed my name in ________________

I have been receiving VICs in my former legal name for _________ years.

I have attempted to correct my name with Elections Canada on [list all elections and details you remember]

Please correct my name in the list of electors so I do not have to have a discussion with poll workers [again]

My address is ______

My PD and Sequence numbers from my VIC are [numbers in lower right of the VIC],  this information should allow you to identify my elector record.

I can be reached at [email or phone number, phone is probably better. They may call from an 873 area code/Quebec]

Attached is a copy of [the voter information card, or your legal name change certificate]

If this is not corrected, I will file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Thank you,

[name]

3. Don't click submit yet! With many years between elections, people commonly lose records and memories fade. Documentation gives you evidence and more options.

4. Create a folder. 

5. Screenshot / print the page with your complaint to PDF. Name the file with the date.

6. Screenshot / print to PDF the confirmation number they give you on the next page. Add the date.

Option 3 - If you've had issues for multiple years

Given the short amount of time before the election, you'll 

want to also do options 1 or 2 along with this. 

Some of us have submitted Corrections Forms and Registration Certificates during multiple elections, only to have voter info cards come in our former legal names over and over again. 

You can fix your records with a request under the Privacy Act. This is free and can be done by email.

An ATIP request will also show whether Elections Canada is receiving your deadname from one of their data sources.  If this is the case, you'll need to correct it with that government body.

Use the sample letter below and email it to ; aiprp-atip@elections.ca  

To Privacy Officer, Elections Canada

I am making a request under Section 12 of the Privacy Act for any and all personal information, in any format whatsoever, stored in any and all personal information banks under the control of Elections Canada for myself.

Electoral District: (Go to elections.ca, put in your postal code)

Current Legal Name: $NEWNAME

[ On the Voter Information Card, the Polling Division and Sequence are on the front, lower right hand corner in small text, ]

Polling Division / Sequence:

Former Legal name: $DEADNAME

Polling Division/Sequence [if you have it]

My former addresses include;

[make a list as this can help them find records - if you're getting VIC to your former addresses, say so] 

Also, please 

- change my name in your records, a copy of my legal name change certificate is attached.

- verify I do not have multiple electoral records 

- send me Elections Canada's / the National Register of Electors source for the DEADNAME data.

If this is not corrected, I will file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Thank you,

$NEWNAME

Again, create a folder, print the email to PDF, date it. 

This process might seem intimidating but Elections Canada Privacy Officers have been really great with these requests in the past. 

We haven't heard of a single case where they didn't respond within 30 days 

We ask that you consider sharing some of the data you receive with us. 

This will help us further understand how various data sources interact with the Elections Canada database and allow us to make better recommendations for how trans people can fix these recurring issues.

One thing we discovered is that Elections Canada didn't automatically update records in the past if one data source sent just your first and last name and another sent your first, MIDDLE and last name.

Sending only the First and Last name appears to be standard practice with the CRA, even if they received a legal name change certificate with your middle name. This this was a major reason that trans people had issues!

In 2015, Elections Canada didn't automatically change the first name if they received that info from a data source. They changed this based on community feedback and complaints. 

Please do not send us original documents, email us at genderqueeries@coopradio.org and we will walk you through how to redact your documents / just ask you some questions so you don't need to send us anything.

Are you really upset?

Complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada  

 Web Form  or write to 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

30 Victoria Street

Gatineau, Quebec

K1A 1H3

File a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission

Other Resources

Privacy Act

Access to Information Act 

Corrections Form (PDF)  - Since you can't take photos at the Polling Place, fill this out in advance & make a copy for your records!

CRA Issues

You can call CRA, but you'll spend 2 hours on hold and their agents aren't great.

Email: ATIP-AIPRP@cra-arc.gc.ca 

Subject: Privacy Act s.12 (2) (a) correction request

To Privacy Officer, Canada Revenue Agency

On [date] I sent a copy of my legal name change certificate to the CRA at T1 Speciality Services Unit Winnipeg Tax Centre PO Box 14000  Station Main  Winnipeg, MN R3C 3M2 [or whatever you did, but it's probably this]

[My name change has not been processed and I still receive mail from you in my former legal name / I have discovered you are sending incorrect information to Elections Canada / somewhere else]

Please correct my records. My legal name change certificate is attached.

This should be sufficient detail to enable an experienced CRA employee to identify my record(s) with a reasonable effort. If you require additional information, please contact me at [email / phone]

I am also requesting a copy of all of my personal information under the control of the CRA about me under s. 13 of the Privacy Act. Please send copies digitally.

[If your issue is elections related - Please also send me the Unique ID Number that is associated with me when communicating with Elections Canada]

If you received my former legal name from any data sources, please send me a copy of this information and identify the source. 

I look forward to your response by [30 business days from when you send it]

[New Name]

[Address]

Have you tried to change your name multiple times?

Complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada  

 Web Form  or write to 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

30 Victoria Street

Gatineau, Quebec

K1A 1H3

File a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission

Other Resources

Privacy Act

Access to Information Act