Still time to vote before May 2
Posted Apr 25, 2011 05:40:41 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Lineups were steady at advance polls around HRM over the weekend.
The 41st general election takes place a week today, but advance polls were open on Friday and Saturday for anyone who needed to vote before May 2.
The polls will be open again today from noon to 8 p.m.
Karen Janigan, regional media advisor with Elections Canada, couldn’t comment on turnout over the weekend, but says more than a million people used advance polls in 2008.
She says Elections Canada has increased the number of polling stations in anticipation of a similar turnout.
“I know 1.5 million people voted in 2008 and in 2006 by advance poll,” she said. “We increased them from 4017 in 2008, and now we have 4700 advance polling stations for this election.”
Anyone who comes to an advance poll will need identification that shows both identity and address, even if you’re already on the voters’ list.
There’s still some time to register for special balloting if you’re a student who wants to vote in your home riding for example.
You have until Tuesday at 6 to do that.
janigan says canadians outside of the country can register to use special balloting too.
“You can either register where your returning office is, and vote in your home riding, or if you’re a student, you can vote back wherever you come from,” she said.
Janigan says special ballots are also used in nursing homes and long term care homes for people who can’t get out to vote.
Detailed information about registration and advance poll locations can be found on the Elections Canada website.
