Voter kits in the mail

Duane Hicks

Local electors have begun receiving voter information letters in the mail but they’ll have to wait until at least Oct. 15 to actually vote.
“If you haven’t received yours yet, there’s potentially more being mailed,” Fort Frances clerk and returning officer Lisa Slomke told the Times
“Lots of people have received theirs but I don’t think they [service provider InteliVote] are done,” she added.
“It’s either coming or you’re not on the list.”
As previously reported, the municipal and school board elections in Fort Frances will utilize telephone/Internet voting, and those on the voters’ list will receive voter information letters in the mail by the end of next week (if they haven’t already).
“If not, starting Oct. 15, our voter help centre will open,” said Slomke, noting election staff will be able to help the public.
Those who may be uncomfortable voting using the phone or a computer will be able to come to the voter help centre set up at the Civic Centre beginning on Monday, Oct. 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Election staff will have phones and computers there.
The voter help centre will run Monday through Friday of that week from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and again on Monday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Also on Oct. 15, online voting will begin.
“I have received phone calls from people complaining that the site’s not working,” Slomke said.
“Well, it’s not working because it’s not active until Oct. 15,” she noted, though adding it’s a positive sign that people are tryinh out the system and eager to vote.
In their letters, voters will have received a Personal Identification Number (P.I.N.) specific to them.
The letter also will include a phone number and website address.
The voter will be able to call the number or go to the website address to vote starting at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 and closing at 8 p.m. on Oct. 22.
They’ll then use that P.I.N. number to vote.
Those without a computer at home always can come to the Civic Centre during the aforementioned times or use the computers at the public library–although the library won’t have election staff on hand to help those who may need it.
More information related to the 2018 municipal and school board elections can be found on the town’s website at www.fortfrances.ca/town/mayor-council/elections