With one day left for advanced voting in the municipal election, more than 2,500 people have already handed in their ballots.
“We’re a little behind the count from 2006, but then you need to remember the election is moved forward two weeks so there is a little less pressure on snowbirds who might have been leaving town at the end of the month or in November,” said city clerk John Hannam.
“They don’t need to rush out to the advanced polls now since the election is Oct. 25.”
Advanced polls have been set up at various locations throughout the city including the 55 Plus Centre and the West Thunder Community Centre. The city’s mobile voting van has also been making the rounds. About 300 people have used it to vote.
“We’ve been quite encouraged by the turnout there,” Hannam said. “It’s been a great response from the voters; they all think it’s a great idea.”
The city is hoping to see voter turnout hit at least 50 per cent last year after the 2006 election brought in less than 40 per cent of eligible voters.
“It would be encouraging to see a larger turnout than that; 50 per cent is nothing to celebrate,” Hannam said. “We hope to see numbers at least get up to where the provincial and federal elections are at, which is somewhere between 60 and 70 per cent. That might be asking for a bit much this time around, but if we can get ahead in the right direction, that will be encouraging.”
Hannam also want to let people who don’t normally vote know it’s important to vote to help select the people that will lead the community; he encouraged people to take a little time to learn about the candidates.
Saturday is the last day for advanced polling; voting stations will be set up at Intercity Shopping Centre all day.
