Duane Hicks
Advanced voting last week showed the electorate in Kenora-Rainy River has been eager to have its say in the provincial election prior to election day tomorrow (June 7).
“We had a really good turnout. I’d say we had the best turnout we’ve had,” local returning officer Ian Simpson told the Times on Monday afternoon.
While not allowed to report numbers from the advance voting last week, Simpson did say “it was very positive” and “across the district we probably had more than last election.”
Likewise, the tabulators used to process the ballots worked without a hitch.
In this riding, advance polls were held May 26-June 1 at the local returning office (located at 363 Church St.) and the satellite returning offices in Dryden and Kenora, as well as from May 26-30 at the Ignace Public Library, Knox United Church in Emo, and the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church.
As early as May 10, eligible voters also could vote by special ballot at the local office and the Dryden and Kenora satellite offices, and they can continue to do so until 6 p.m. today (June 6).
“We’ve [seen] a good turnout here, too, for special ballots. They’re still coming in to vote,” noted Simpson.
“They’ve been voting at the satellite offices in Dryden and Kenora also.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, the 94 polls across the Kenora-Rainy River riding will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (CDT).
There also will be five special polls at the long-term care facilities here, in Rainy River, and in Kenora and Dryden.
“People are encouraged to get out and vote,” Simpson said. “If they can’t vote on election day, they should try and get in and vote by special ballot between now and [tonight].
“The special ballot is a great option for people,” he noted.
Voters are asked to bring their voter information card indicating where they should vote, along with a piece of photo I.D. showing their name and current residential address.
If you have not received a voter information card in the mail, not to worry.
Simpson advised those people to go to elections.on.ca, where they can enter their postal code and find out their polling station.
Then they can go to that location bringing with them one piece of photo I.D. that shows their name and current residential address to prove they live in that polling division.
Likewise, if their voter information card is wrong regarding their voting location, they should go to elections.on.ca and find the correct voting location and go there with I.D. to vote.
If voters still need help regarding where they should vote, or need any other questions answered, they can drop by the local returning office or call it at 274-1166 (toll-free 1-866-291-7966).
“We’re hoping for a good turnout,” Simpson remarked. “We’re looking for a very positive day with a lot of voters coming out to exercise their franchise.
“We hope we can help them have an easy time voting.”
Simpson added he’s confident it won’t take too long to tabulate all the ballots after the polls close at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
“We usually have got most of them in by 9-9:30 p.m.” he noted.
“We sure hope to get them in and get the results up as quickly as we can, mainly because that indicates that we’ve had no problems.”
