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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - There is an old saying that if you don't vote in the election, you have no right to complain about the government. The staff at Elections Canada in Yellowknife and across the NWT are preparing for the election on Oct. 14 to ensure your right to vote (and complain) is secure.

Elizabeth Wyman, chief electoral officer for the Western Arctic, explained what voters will need to bring to the polls this year if they want to cast their ballots.

A new law passed since the last federal election requires voters to provide proof of identity at the polling station. The law was designed to combat voter fraud, especially in cities. Ideally, voters are asked to provide a single photo ID at the poll.

The law has drawn criticism from leaders in Northern communities. Many Northerners do not have photo ID since driving is often not necessary in remote Northern communities. However, there is another option of providing two pieces of non-photo identification.

"Both pieces must contain your name and one must contain your address," said Wyman.

Acceptable identification includes utility bills, library cards, fishing licences or a government cheque stub (see the complete list for more options).

"Even people who don't have a hunting licence or a fishing licence might have a firearms acquisition licence allowing them to buy ammunition and that is an acceptable piece of identification," she said.

Wyman said she wants Northern voters to rest assured knowing the list of acceptable identification is very long and accommodating.

If providing paper identification is still not possible, you can have a verified voter swear an oath saying he or she knows who you are and where you live. Each verified voter may only vouch for one person.

For those without a fixed address - such as people who may be living in a shelter - a letter from shelter officials attesting the voter's residency will be permitted. Aboriginal band chiefs can also attest a voter's identification with a letter.

Despite the effort being made to ensure Northerners can cast ballots this election some candidates say the regulation will hurt voter turnout in smaller communities.

Incumbent NDP MP Dennis Bevington said voter fraud was not a big issue in the last election - when only a handful of fraud cases arose. The new obligations, he added, could create barriers for some voters.

"It's going to create a nightmare for voters and turn them away from the polls. We already have a problem with voter apathy and this is only going to make things worse," he said. "They're killing a gnat with a sledgehammer."

Green candidate Sam Gamble said anything that infringes on the rights of voters isn't good for the process.

"It's disenfranchising people and it shouldn't be going on," he said. "We don't want voter fraud, but we also want our voters to know the rules and not to have problems."

Conservative candidate Brendan Bell said having a fixed address isn't nearly as much of a problem as bringing proper ID to the polling station.

"We need it these days to fly on an airplane, they're going to need picture IDs, not just on voting," he said. "It was a big step to cut down on voter fraud and I don't think that it's something we should take lightly. I think the challenge now is to make sure that people have the ID and can participate."

Liberal candidate Gabrielle Mackenzie-Scott did not return calls by press time.

You only have one vote per election, but there are several ways to cast that vote early. Although advance polls will not be happening in every community, they are happening in the major hub communities of each district. For this election, seven communities will host advance polls over three days. Inuvik, Norman Wells, Yellowknife, Behchoko, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Fort Simpson will have polls open on Oct. 3, 4, and 6. Polls will be open in each of the seven communities from noon until 8 p.m. on those three days. Check with Elections Canada for the exact location of the polling station in each community.

Territorial residents who cannot make it to their poll for whatever reason also have the opportunity to vote by mail. This is a great option for students who are away at university but who still want to vote in their home riding.

To vote by mail you can go to the Elections Canada website to get an application form. The form can then be faxed toll-free back to Elections Canada's office in Yellowknife along with copies of proper identification. Elections Canada will then mail you a ballot.

To vote the old-fashioned way on election day, polls will be open in every community from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

"Each person whose name appears on the preliminarily list of electors will receive a card in the mail telling them where their advance poll is and where their polling station will be," said Wyman.

If you don't receive a card in the mail, contact the electoral office in Yellowknife.