AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 12, 2026
Surrey Couple Unable to Vote Due to Accessibility Barriers
Glenda Hyatt and her husband Darryl Hyatt, both of whom rely on electric mobility aids, were determined to participate in Surrey’s civic election. However, when they arrived at their designated voting station at Kwantlen Park Secondary School, they encountered significant obstacles preventing them from casting their ballots.
Challenges Navigating Voting Station Entrances
While attempting to access the polling station, the Hyatts found that their only options were to ascend a flight of stairs or traverse a grassy hill. Glenda, who previously broke her arm tipping her scooter on uneven ground, was unwilling to risk her safety again. Despite backtracking multiple times in search of an accessible path, they were ultimately unable to enter the building and decided to return home without voting.
Feelings of Exclusion and Seeking Answers
Glenda described feeling discriminated against and had to restrain her emotions as they left the site. She later emailed all seven Surrey mayoral candidates seeking to inform her vote, should she try to vote again during the election.
Darryl noted the lack of volunteers in the area where they encountered these obstacles, and the absence of visible signage indicating an accessible route or features. “So once again, we were stopped,” he told CBC News.
City Response: Improving Accessibility Measures
Gib van Ert, Surrey’s chief election officer, acknowledged the concerns in an email to CBC News. He stated the city would address the issues by adding more accessibility signage and reminding staff to guide voters to accessible entrances and inform them about curbside voting services. Van Ert emphasized that ensuring every eligible resident can vote is a key priority for the municipality.
The city indicated that accessibility measures for voting were in place at Kwantlen Park Secondary School, including an accessible entrance and curbside voting. However, the feedback from the Hyatts suggested these features were either inadequately visible or were not clearly communicated to all voters.
Systemic Issues with Voting Accessibility
Spencer van Vloten, an advocate for inclusive public spaces and candidate for Vancouver park board with the Greens, noted that accessibility issues at voting stations are not new. “Voting for people with disabilities and seniors has been a big issue in previous elections and this election as well,” he said.
Van Vloten argued that truly accessible voting requires ramps, clear pathways, accessible parking, prominent signage, and accessible bathrooms. According to him, some voting stations across the province fall short of these requirements. He warned that a lack of accessibility may lead to underrepresentation of voters with disabilities in decisions made by elected officials, stating that accessibility needs to be "at the foundation of all public decision making when it comes to voting." He called for elected leaders to make accessibility a primary policy consideration moving forward.
Calls for Ongoing Improvement
The situation faced by the Hyatts in Surrey highlights ongoing challenges in achieving fully accessible voting for everyone, especially for individuals who use mobility aids. While the city has pledged to take further action, advocates maintain more comprehensive solutions are needed across British Columbia to ensure equitable civic election access for all eligible voters.
Source: cbc.ca.
