THUNDER BAY -- A Shelter House election poll planned for Oct. 27 is all about encouraging the city’s homeless and most marginalized citizens a chance to cast a ballot.
Executive director Patty Hajdu said Shelter House will also be inviting at-large and mayoralty candidates to volunteer on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, a way to get to know the people they are voting for.
“This is a population that often has challenges in terms of transportation and ID and registration and often we see a really low turnout. So it’s very exciting for us to get the democratic process available and equitable throughout the community,” Hajdu said.
It’s the democratic right of Canadians to have a say in who gets to govern, and typically this population is voiceless, Hajdu added.
“There is often not an opportunity for them to have a say politically, not an opportunity for them to have a say really anywhere. Any opportunity we have to amplify that voice is something that we are really excited to promote.”
Shelter House will hold a registration date on Oct. 20.
The city is hosting a number of advanced polls throughout the city, and polling booths will be set up across Thunder Bay on election night.
Mayoral candidate Henry Wojak said he supports the Shelter House poll.
“This is a very good idea and will target a group that normally may not vote, like the SHIFT group,” said Wojak, referencing a young entrepreneur’s group that has been granted a special Oct. 20 advanced poll at Mariner’s Hall.
The SHIFT poll is open to the entire voting public, though its executive says they are targeting younger voters who might not traditionally head to the polls.
