It's going to be a long haul for returning office workers in both local ridings but they're open and ready to take on the 11-week federal election campaign.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River Riding returning officer Tom McCuaig was driving home from out of town a week ago when he heard the Governor General could be dissolving Parliament by the end of the weekend.
"When an election's called, I have to be in the office within two hours with my special ballot coordinator because electors can come in and vote if they wish," he said.
"So we were standing in this office with nothing; not a chair, not a table. This is my seventh election. Every election has started the same way so it's not a surprise to me."
Bill Everitt is beginning his sixth federal campaign as returning officer for Thunder Bay-Superior North. Furniture was still under construction on Friday but as much as the early election call caught many off-guard, his team was ready to work by the time they arrived.
"It means we have to open our office earlier than we anticipated," he said.
"It means we called people in who have probably been on holidays. It means we have more time to prepare so that's an advantage for us from an organizational point of view but it really means we put into place the plans we've been working on for the last six to eight months."
Before long, Everitt expects candidates will be dropping by to file nomination papers and staff is prepared to accommodate those wishing to vote early by special ballot.
Under new voting regulations, voters need to present government-issued identification including a photo and will also need proof of address.
The Thunder Bay-Superior North office is located at 106 N. Cumberland St. and the Thunder Bay-Rainy River office is at 740 Syndicate St. S.
