Homeless Halifax mayoral candidate pushes for voting access for those without permanent addresses
Housing is one of the leading issues on the municipal campaign trail in Halifax. The insufficient housing supply and homelessness are often contested topics among policy makers.
One of Halifax’s 16 mayoral candidates, Andrew Goodsell, is homeless. He lives in a designated tent encampment in the city’s south end.
Goodsell said the housing crisis drove him to run for mayor and advocate for change. He said he wants homeless people and those without an address to be able to vote.
"A couple of the navigators did show up here a couple of days ago with a laptop trying to get everyone’s information, saying they are going to do their best to provide an address so that they can vote,” said Goodsell. “I believe it’s all of our responsibility, mine and yours, to make sure the people do know what's going on. How they can vote and the difference it makes in this world.”
Goodsell voting should be made convenient for people without a permanent address because their voices matter.
Ryan Nearing, a spokesperson with HRM confirmed that community outreach workers are assisting homeless residents register to vote and are explaining the different voting options.
"We have our municipal outreach teams going out and providing education,” said Nearing. “That includes exploring the different voting options that are available, both the advanced polls, the election day voting and online voting but also providing clarification on who they will be voting for in their local races."
Residents in designated tent encampments will be able to vote in the local districts where they currently reside said Nearing.
Online voting opened Tuesday and already 8.5 per cent of eligible voters have cast their ballot either online or by phone.
The Halifax municipal election is set for Saturday, October 19th.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest in Brampton, Ont.
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
RCMP begins deploying body-worn cameras to frontline officers across Canada
Within days, thousands of frontline RCMP officers will be starting their shifts equipped with a body-worn camera, as the national police force begins deploying the program across Canada.
'Countless lives were at risk:' 8 charged, including teen wanted in deadly home invasion, after West Queen West gun battle
A teenage boy arrested along with more than 20 others following a gun battle in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood was wanted in connection with a deadly home invasion in Etobicoke back in April, Toronto police say.
Scotiabank users facing 'intermittent' access to banking
Scotiabank users say they are having issues using their bank’s services following a scheduled maintenance period that ended days ago.
Everything is under US$20 at Amazon's newest store
Amazon is targeting retail rivals Shein, Temu and TikTok Shop with a new deeply discounted storefront that sells a wide array of products for US$20 or less.
W5 Investigates Car security investigation: How W5 'stole' a car using a device we ordered online
In part two of a three-part series into how thieves are able to drive off with modern vehicles so easily, CTV W5 correspondent Jon Woodward uses a device flagged by police to easily clone a car key.
Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on
There are certain phrases that Wachuka Gichohi finds difficult to hear after enduring four years of living with long COVID, marked by debilitating fatigue, pain, panic attacks and other symptoms so severe she feared she would die overnight.
Marble bust bought for US$6 and used as doorstop could sell for more than US$3 million
A sculpture bought for just £5 (US$6) and used as a doorstop could sell for more than £2.5 million (US$3.2 million) after a Scottish court gave the green light for its sale.
Edinburgh Zoo blames fireworks for death of baby red panda
Zookeepers in Scotland have blamed pyrotechnics from annual Bonfire Night celebrations for the death of a baby red panda named Roxie.