A very different kind of advance voting process got underway Wednesday in Prince Albert.(Jeff D'Andrea paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Drive-thru voting

Advanced voting for P.A. election by drive-thru only

Oct 28, 2020 | 11:11 AM

A very different form of advance voting for the 2020 municipal election in Prince Albert is now underway. It’s being done by drive-thru only.

There will be an opportunity over six days – between today and Nov. 5 – for voters to cast their ballot for their mayor, ward and school board candidates ahead of election day on Nov. 9.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all advanced voting will require voters to be in a vehicle and roll up to the special station set up at the P.A. Exhibition Centre.

PaVotes Returning Officer, Sherry Person says this type of voting will help given the current public health situation.

“This provides voters the opportunity to participate safely without contact with other voters and limited contact with election workers by staying in their vehicles,” Person explained.

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Voters using the drive-thru will make two stops. At the first one they will meet a poll clerk and will be provided a pen and a clipboard which will contain a voter registration form. The voter will fill out the registration form before moving on to the second stop. There they will meet a deputy returning officer (D.R.O.) who will review the registration form, along with a valid required ID. After the review process, the D.R.O. will bring the voter a ballot. Once the voter has filled out the ballot, they will then drop it into a portable ballot box before driving away.

Due to the popularity of advanced polls and mail-in voting during the provincial election, Person believes the drive-thru will prove to be quite a popular option as well.

“We saw in the 2016 election there was a lot more people at the advanced polls. I think we will probably see the same here,” Person said. “The drive-thru provides a little bit more for the people to not actually have to go to the polls on election day and stand in line with others.”

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot being sent to your home passed on Monday, but you can still go to city hall and apply for a mail-in ballot in person.

“We have seen a number of mail-in ballots. We have about 300 at this point,” Person said.

While local election officials would prefer all advance voters to cast their ballot from a vehicle, Person said in those instances where that was not possible they could call the elections office and special arrangements can be made. The number to call is 306-953-4305.

Here are the drive-thru dates and times at the Prince Albert Exhibition Grounds (Use the 6th Ave E Entrance):

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 – 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 2, 2020 – 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 – 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8