Advance polls open Saturday for municipal election

By JAMES TUBB on October 9, 2021.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Hatters can head to the polls early for the municipal election starting Saturday.

The Hockey Hounds recreational centre and grandstand at Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, will be the two advance voting stations available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will both also be open Oct. 12-15 from 2-8 p.m. and on the final day of advance voting, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After that, anyone who has not voted can do so on Election Day, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at one of the 18 voting stations available. The City of Medicine Hat says each person’s allocated voting station will be printed on page 1 of their September utility bill.

Jessica Robinson, the deputy returning officer with the City of Medicine Hat, says they increased the number of advance polls and are using larger centres to conduct voting to help ensure people can physically distance and have that separate entrance and exit.

The number of available Election Day polling stations is down from 2017 when there were 50 locations for Hatters to submit their ballot.

“Some of them are in schools because we worked with schools and they had a PD day, but we tried to get out of schools because of our current pandemic,” Robinson said. “But we picked different venues that are larger and we increased the number of advance polls to allow people to spread out, perhaps vote in advance and to have two advance polls running for longer this year.”

There is a list of the 18 poll stations on the city’s website as well as an interactive map where residents can establish which station they can vote at.

For those Hatters who need a ride to their polling stations, Medicine Hat Transit will be offering free transit from all bus stops. There is also special transit for those who might have mobility issues. Those needing the extra assistance are required to register before 3 p.m. On Oct. 15 and can do so by calling 403-502-8018.

To be eligible to vote at an advance poll or on Oct. 18, voters must be a Canadian citizen, reside in Alberta and their place of residence located within the jurisdiction of the city on Election Day.

Voters also have to provide one piece of government issued identification containing their name and current address. If they do not have a driver’s licence or Alberta ID Card, they must produce one piece of identification that establishes their name and current address.

12
-11