Duane Hicks
The local municipal and school board election got off and running here yesterday, with about 11 percent of the electorate having cast their votes via the internet or telephone by the end of the day.
“Day 1 went very, very well,” returning officer Lisa Slomke told the Times this morning.
A total of 583 people voted out of 5,179 eligible electors, which equals an 11 percent turnout, she noted, adding she feels that turnout is “phenomenal.”
Voting continues until 8 p.m. next Monday (Oct. 22).
The internet and telephone voting system has been working well for most electors so far.
“We have lots of people very, very pleased once they’ve used the system,” Slomke noted.
“They’ve found it very user-friendly and simple and straightforward.”
However, some voters have had issues with telephone voting in so much that they’re not waiting until all the candidates are listed before they start pushing buttons.
“When you start pushing buttons, you advance the system to where you’re confirming your choice now,” Slomke explained, adding some people inadvertently have completed voting before making all their choices.
Just like traditional voting, if you make a mistake on a ballot and then drop it in the ballot box, it’s unfortunately gone, she noted. You can’t get it back.
“Every form of election has some form of error in it on behalf of the elector. There’s not much we can do to control it,” reasoned Slomke, who advised telephone voters to be patient.
“Listen to the whole message,” she stressed. “If you get all of the way to the end and haven’t pushed anything, it’s going to repeat the message to you.
“That’s the worst-case scenario.”
Slomke also recommended telephone voters have a pen and paper handy so they can jot down the corresponding numbers to the candidates they want.
Voters who would like assistance also can drop by the Voter Help Centre set up at the Civic Centre.
It is open during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) through this Friday, and again on Monday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Additionally, a travelling voter help centre will be set up tomorrow from 1-3 p.m. at La Verendrye General Hospital (extended care wing) and again Thursday from 1-3 p.m. at Columbus Place on Nelson Street.
Slomke said traffic has been fairly steady at the Civic Centre since first thing yesterday morning.
She noted individuals have come there for help voting by internet or phone, as well as to get added to the voting list or replace their voter information letter if they’ve misplaced it.
As previously reported, June Caul and Ken Perry are vying for mayor while Michael Behan, Wendy Brunetta, Clinton Gray, Andrew Hallikas, Harold Huntley, Douglas Judson, John McTaggart, and Rick Wiedenhoeft are running for the six councillor seats.
Stephanie Berger, Michael Graham, Peter Howie, David Kircher, Raymond Roy, and Rudolf Zeitlhofer are competing for the two Fort Frances seats on the Rainy River District School Board.
There is no Fort Frances election for the Northwest Catholic District School Board as candidates Donald Marquis and Cathy Piotrowski will be acclaimed.
