As the HST referendum deadline approaches, some households are still awaiting their mail-in ballots – and others have received more than their share.
White Rock resident Doug Masse and his wife were relieved to find their ballots in the mail on Thursday, but the three that don't belong to them were more concerning.
"One is for my mother-in-law who passed away four years ago and the other two are for the couple we purchased out suite from about 9 years ago," Masse said. "It must be a very inaccurate list that they're using."
Masse is worried someone less honest than him might take advantage of receiving multiple ballots and cast fraudulent votes. All it would take, he says, is a birth date and forged signature.
Robert Chisholm, who has lived at the same address in Delta for about 30 years, received a ballot for someone he's never even heard of: one "Andre Paul Chisholm."
"He doesn't live at this address, never has, and to my knowledge isn't a relation of ours," Chisholm said.
Others have yet to receive their ballots. More than 3 million HST voting packages have been mailed out for the referendum, though a labour dispute at Canada Post had them piling up at post offices last month.
Elections BC approved a two-week extension of the referendum deadline in late June to make up for the delay. Ballots are now due by August 5 instead of July 22.
Those who don't receive a voting package in the mail have until July 22 to request one.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Nafeesa Karim
