Advanced polls active here

Voters in Fort Frances and Dryden came out in droves last week to make their ‘X’ in advance polls for tomorrow’s provincial election.
“We had to get extra ballots off to Fort Frances and Dryden,” noted Murray Affleck, the district returning officer for the Kenora-Rainy River riding.
“That’s an indication of how busy it was.”
Affleck said it’s too early to have final numbers from the advance polls in the district (which were open last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), and added the votes would not be counted until the regular polls close tomorrow.
But he did say the advance polls “were probably doing about 200 [people] a day.”
He said the numbers in Kenora weren’t as big, per day, but reasoned that the office was open for more than three days like the rest of the advance polls were in Fort Frances, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, and Red Lake.
Affleck added now that the advance polls are complete, “we have to find where things went amuck.”
He was referring specifically to the story of one woman in Rainy River, published in last week’s Times, who was irked by the removal of the advance poll there for this election.
“We have heard the message from Rainy River that an advanced poll would be well served there,” Affleck conceded. “The same could be said for other areas.”
He indicated both the Sioux Narrows and Ear Falls areas also made a case for having advance polls next time around.
Affleck explained the determination of where the advanced polls are located is done by reviewing previous election data and making the case, or dismissing a location, by numbers.
Affleck admitted this was flawed by saying you must take into account “driving distances and time of year. . . there are other factors,” beyond the numbers.
Polls are open tomorrow in Rainy River District from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Remember to take your enumeration card, or identification with proof of permanent residence, to your polling station.