What some Hamilton residents who can't vote say about being shut out of local democracy

Lil Acive has lived in Canada for nine years, but until this summer, she couldn't vote. 

The Hamilton resident, originally from Venezuela, received her Canadian citizenship only months ago — "just in time for the upcoming municipal elections," she said. 

Until then, she was among those who aren't eligible to vote, a group which includes permanent residents, migrant workers, international students, undocumented people, those under 18 and incarcerated people.

"In my family, election day was always a big thing. Mom and dad instilled on their children that sense of duty towards the act of voting," she said.

"I do believe that having the right to make their voices heard should be added to the list of things permanent residents can count on. Or at least, they should have the right to participate in municipal elections."

With the election just weeks away, Acive says she's looking forward to casting a ballot in Hamilton for the first time. "I feel the same way you would feel when you finally receive that invitation to that party everybody in town is talking about. I'm excited to see my name in the guest list." 

Many others still don't have that chance.

Alexander Peace has been living in Canada since he moved here from England in 2016. He teaches geology classes at McMaster University and says he cares about the safety and happiness of the people of Hamilton.

For now, if he wants to help change things, it won't be through voting. "I consider [voting] a civic duty. So, when I drive around, I see people have got the different candidates' signs out of their houses. And I feel like a casual observer rather than a participant."

Peace received permanent resident status in 2009, after becoming eligible while still in England. He applied for citizenship in August of 2020 and had been hoping to be a citizen by now. He has done everything he needs to do, he says, except take an oath. 

"I don't think there's a single update in 2021... on my application, and that's a very long time to just sort of sit there."

Peace said issues like the urban boundary and public transportation are topics he cares about, but can't vote on. 

"I want to be a member of this community. And I want to participate in the democratic process here," he said. "It's painful to not be able to participate in the process of choosing the people who have a large claim in those decisions."

A municipal election can look different for citizens who had the right to vote but lost it.