Voters in Vancouver Quadra's byelection in Point Grey are the first British Columbians to go to the polls under new federal voting rules which require multiple pieces of identification.

Voters will not be eligible to vote in advance polls this weekend with just their voter information card, as was previously allowed.

The regular voting day is March 17, with three other byelections to be held across the country that day.

Advance polls are being held Friday, Saturday and Monday at various community centres and churches in the area. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal MP Stephen Owen in July 2007.

Voters must abide by the new identification requirements by showing either:

  • one piece of government-issued ID with name, photo and current address (such as a driver's license)
  • two pieces of ID with name and current address (such as a health card or hydro bill)
  • swear an oath to have a registered elector vouch for the voter (such as a neighbour or roommate)

One of the wealthiest ridings in the country, Vancouver Quadra is home to many professors, university staff, and thousands of students, because of the nearby UBC campus.

The NDP candidate in the riding, Rebecca Coad, said she is concerned the new identification rules will be prohibitive for students.

"There's a large number of people that live in basement suites in this riding, and they might not have utility bills that come in their name, so they won't have the ID that's necessary to vote," she said. "The more complicated and daunting the process seems, it's very likely they (won't) bother."

Donna Celle of Elections Canada told CTV News they have been devoting a lot of attention to the UBC campus.

"We have plastered the place with posters, and we have had a targeted revision initiative out there to allow students to get their names on the list," she said.

She said Elections Canada is actually more concerned about the reaction of longtime voters who have been using the same voting identification process for many years.

Federal Liberal candidate Justin Trudeau, for the riding of Papineau in Montr�al, visited Liberal volunteers in support of Joyce Murray on Thursday and spoke informally at a Young Liberal function at UBC.

More details on the new federal voter identification rules, along with advance poll locations, can be found at www.elections.ca.

Three other federal byelections are being held in Saskatchewan and Ontario.