Staff
Advanced polling for the Oct. 6 provincial election will wrap up at 8 p.m. today.
“[Advanced] voting has been fairly steady and we expect a heavy turnout today because it’s the last day,” said local returning officer Ian Simpson.
Advanced polls opened Sept. 21.
“I would like to encourage people to come out and vote today,” added Simpson.
“Because it gives them an opportunity to vote ahead of the election day, which is probably going to be very busy at all the polls,” he reasoned.
In related news, people still can vote by special ballot at the returning office here in Fort Frances (located at the Senic River Mall on Second Street East), as well as satellite offices in Dryden, Kenora, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. up until Oct. 5 at 6 p.m., Simpson noted.
Special ballots allow eligible voters to cast a ballot in person or by mail during the campaign period, including if they temporarily are outside of their electoral district.
This can be done either by visiting the local returning office and filling out a special ballot application.
If voting by mail, applications must be received by Elections Ontario by today (Sept. 30).
Applications are available at www.wemakevotingeasy.ca or at the returning office.
Meanwhile, due to time zone differences, voters in Northwestern Ontario will be casting ballots during a different time frame than the rest of the province.
Polls in the Eastern time zone will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on election day while those in the Central time zone will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Simpson encouraged anyone with questions about voting to contact the local returning office at 274-3467.
