Just three hours prior to polls closing, Kelowna mayoral candidate, Bobby Kennedy, organized a ride to City Hall for voters with unique circumstances.

Among those riders were members of Kelowna’s homeless population, a group who have been a hot topic in the 2018 civic election, some which are not actually eligible to participate.

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According to the City of Kelowna Voter Information web page, voters must come prepared with two pieces of identification (one government issued and one with the voters signature) in order to prove residency. 

Photo credit: City of Kelowna website

“We brought everybody from Leon Street, Lawrence Street, all that downtown area, all the homeless people,” said Kennedy

“They talk about these people all the time in the media and the current leadership about how they are going to help [them], but I don’t even know if they can actually have a vote,”

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Though some of the individuals on the bus did indeed meet the requirements to place their vote, it wasn’t the same for all.

“If you’re going to cure homelessness maybe you should have the people you are trying to help have a say,” added Kennedy.

Joshua Booker has lived in Kelowna for over 20 years and has been without a home for half of that time. According to Booker, he was turned away from the polling station after being unable to present valid ID.

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“I don’t have any ID at all so I can’t prove that I live in Kelowna, I’ve been in Kelowna for 23 years, I’ve been homeless for 10 but apparently they have never seen me around,” said Booker.

“It makes me feel like I’m not a citizen like I don’t belong here,” he added.

Polls for Kelowna’s Civic election are open until 8 p.m. tonight. Click here for the eligible voter requirements.