Advance polls open in North Bay to lines and anxious voters
There were lines at polling stations across North Bay on Friday as voters were hoping to cast their ballot before election day.
And Elections Canada is reminding voters what they need to know when hitting the poll booth.
The line outside of the Elk’s Lodge was long in the morning, with voters telling CTV News they want their voices heard.
“We figured it wouldn’t be that busy. We got here shortly after 10 a.m. and there was already a big, long lineup,” said voter Gloria Glenn.
Advance polls are open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. until Monday.
“I like to come out and get it done with,” said Bernadette Forth. “I can sit back … on the regular voting day and see what’s going on.”
The location of the poll is available on the voter information card that is mailed to residents.
“It’ll probably be the end of the day before we get a good handle on the numbers,” said Nipissing-Timiskaming returning officer Jim Mallory. “It’s usually quite heavy, the early part of the first day.”
There are four different ways to cast a ballot: vote on election day, vote by mail-in ballot, vote at advance polls or you can vote on a special ballot at the returning office.
“Voters need a piece of identification with a photo on it, such as a health card or driver’s license, and they need something that proves their address,” said Mallory.
Due to the ongoing health crisis, a number of traditional polling sites chose not to participate. Elections Canada had to find other sites.
There are some concern as 26 polling sites will be in one location at the North Bay Mall on Lakeshore Drive on election day.
“It does mean some people will have to travel from their traditional polling site to this one for hopefully the first and only time,” said Mallory.
Voters do not have to be vaccinated to cast their ballot. However, officials are asking people to wear masks and stay as physically distanced as possible.
Officials are expecting long lines throughout the advance polling and on election day.
“We’ve had some troublesome times so I just want to make sure my vote is heard,” said voter Wanda Doupe.
“If you don’t vote you can’t make a change,” said voter William Weir.
There are four candidates in the Nipissing-Timiskaming riding: Liberal Anthony Rota, Conservative Steven Trahan, NDP’s Scott Robertson and Greg Galante, the candidate for the People’s Party of Canada.
Election Day is Sept. 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.