THUNDER BAY – With less than two weeks remaining until voting opens in this fall’s municipal election, city officials are encouraging people to make sure their information is up to date.
Revision days to update the voter’s list for the municipal and school board elections are being held at locations throughout the city over the next week, starting on Thursday at Lakehead University.
“That we have an accurate voter’s list means the voters can come and seamlessly get to do their voting,” city clerk John Hannam said, adding that most issues deal with mistakes to a voter’s name and changes in address or the designated school board.
“We’re really encouraging people to make corrections to the voter’s list if they need to, or make sure they’re on the voter’s list before election day. That helps avoid lineups at the polls when they’re trying to make those changes on that day.”
Hannam said voter instruction letters were mailed out this week, which contain information on how, when and where to vote, along with a personal identification number that is required along with identification to vote online, by telephone or at the polling station.
This year’s election is the first in Thunder Bay that will include online and telephone voting options. Voters can cast their ballots using those means beginning on the morning of Oct. 9 continuously until polls close on the evening of Oct. 22.
“We’re hopeful it will encourage more people to vote and we’ll see some turnout,” Hannam said. “Certainly that’s been the experience in some other municipalities.”
Hannam urged people who haven’t yet received their voter instruction letters to contact city elections staff to check that they are on the list, whether the address is correct and if they should expect to receive a letter.
Having a physical presence at both the university and Confederation College to make revisions and add voters to the list is also meant to increase awareness for younger voters, Hannam added.
“One of the challenges we have with voter turnout is that younger voters tend not to vote to the same degree as older voters do,” Hannam said, adding anyone who is a Canadian citizen over 18 residing in Thunder Bay is eligible to vote.
“While our overall voter turnout usually hovers around 50 per cent here in Thunder Bay, voting for those between the ages of 18 and 35 is less than half of that.”
Voters can also go the city clerk’s office at city hall to make any additions or corrections.
Municipal and school board elections revision days schedule:
Sept. 28:
Confederation College: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Arthur Street Marketplace: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Intercity Shopping Centre: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sept. 29:
Intercity Shopping Centre: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sept. 30:
Intercity Shopping Centre: Noon – 5 p.m.
Oct. 1:
Intercity Shopping Centre: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Grandview Mall: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Oct. 2:
Intercity Shopping Centre: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Oct. 3:
Intercity Shopping Centre: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Oct. 4:
Intercity Shopping Centre: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Victoriaville Centre: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
