By Shane O'Neill

Prince Albert residents turn out in droves for early voting

Oct 24, 2016 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert’s advanced polls ahead of election day drew quite the crowd.

According to the city clerk’s office, almost twice as many residents turned out to vote early this year over 2012.

Sherry Person is Prince Albert’s city clerk and the individual responsible for overseeing civic elections as electoral returning officer. She said she’s encouraged by the number of residents who took advantage of the advanced polls.

“I’m very pleased people took the opportunity to come out and vote,” Person explained, “I’m very hopeful that we’ll have a higher turnout on election day than in previous years.”

In the five advanced polls, which wrapped up on Saturday, 1,457 people turned out to vote. In 2012, 739 ballots were cast ahead of election day. 

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It was the first time an open advanced poll was held because in previous election years, residents needed to provide a justification for missing the given day’s vote. But the province of Saskatchewan changed the laws on voting in civic elections to allow for open advanced voting.

This year, residents hoping to avoid line ups and other appointment conflicts were free to vote at any one of the five advanced polls at city hall.

Ballots cast in advanced polls remain sealed before election day, when all votes are counted together. But if turnout ahead of voting day is an indicator of overall participation in this year’s election, turnout could be high.

According to the city’s declaration, of the 2012 results the total number of votes cast for mayor was 8,203.   

Person encourages residents to log on to pavotes.ca and fill out the voter registration form to bring with the required I.D., before going to vote.

She said, “Bring [the form] to the poll on election day, and hopefully they will get through the polls a lot quicker and not have to stand in line too long.”

Prince Albert votes on Wednesday, Oct. 26th.

shane.oneill@paNOW.com

On Twitter: @stroneill