An Elections Ontario spokeswoman urges voters to remember to bring the proper documentation before they exercise their right to vote in the provincial election.
There are two ridings in this city – Thunder Bay – Superior North and Thunder Bay – Atikokan. Go here to find out what riding you will be voting in.
Ontario polls officially opened at 9 a.m. Thursday. Voters have four candidates running in the Thunder Bay – Superior North riding: Liberal incumbent Michael Gravelle; Progressive Conservative candidate Anthony LeBlanc; NDP candidate Steven Mantis; and Green Party candidate Scot Kyle.
The four candidates for Thunder Bay – Atikokan are: Liberal incumbent Bill Mauro,;Progressive Conservative candidate Fred Gilbert; NDP candidate Mary Kozorys and Green Party candidate Jonathan Milnes.
Alicia Fowlie, a communications co-ordinator with Elections Ontario, said they want to ensure that voters bring the proper documents when they come to vote but they don’t have to bring photo ID.
“What we want voters to do before they leave their homes is make sure they have the right documentation with them,” Fowlie said.
“Either their notice of registration card or identification that proves name and residents in the electoral district. They can also bring their Ontario driver’s license or permit, a utility bill or any document issued by the government of Canada, Ontario or by a municipality.”
The polls are open until 9 p.m. but the peak hours range from the morning when the stations first open, lunch hour and after work around 6 p.m. Fowlie said if people were pressed for time they should go during the off hours such as around 2 p.m.
Elections Ontario gave 29 days for people to vote. Fowlie said that strategy has paid off and more people have voted in the advanced polls compared to the 2007 election.
“As of Oct. 1, preliminary figures indicate that just about 625,000 electors casted their ballots in advance,” she said. “That’s an increase from 2007 where about 450,000 electors cast their ballots in advance. That’s also because we offered more days and more ways to vote for this election. People could start voting by Sept. 8 and by the end of tomorrow, we will have had 29 days to vote.”
“We’re just happy that people have taken advantage of the alternate choices to exercise their democratic right,” she said.
She said voters could visit the Elections Ontario website and put in their postal code to find out what riding they are in as well as the nearest voting stations.
Voting stations will be available for the Thunder Bay – Superior North riding at the Oliver Road School and 110 Redwood Avenue West for Thunder Bay – Atikokan.
