Eligible voters can cast ballots in advance polls across riding

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This article was published 15/11/2013 (4475 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Advance polls open today for the Brandon-Souris byelection.

Eligible voters can cast their ballot today, tomorrow or Monday, from noon to 8 p.m.

In Brandon, the advance polling station will be located in Salon A at the Keystone Centre (Curling club entrance). There will also be advance polling stations in Virden, Melita, Boissevain, Killarney, Glenboro and Carberry.

To find the location nearest you, visit elections.ca or call the local office at The Town Centre at 1-866-288-1430.

The byelection was called by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in October to fill the seat vacated by Conservative Merv Tweed.

On election day (Monday, Nov. 25) polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Across the riding there will be 185 polls open for voters.

“The buildings that we use have to be accessible, and regrettably that sometimes limits our options in smaller communities,” said returning officer Ken Knight. “We try to aim for what would be a normal trading area, so for example, for Virden, the town itself has a number of polls but the smaller communities around Virden will have an individual poll, like Elkhorn … and Kola.”

Knight said eligible voters should have received a voter information card, which lets them know where to vote, if not, call the office.

More than 400 staff members will be involved in this byelection. Each poll has two people, while larger polls need extra staff to maintain co-ordination, Knight said.

According to Diane Benson, spokesperson for Elections Canada, the average cost of a byelection is $800,000, excluding candidate reimbursement.

Benson said there are variations, “if you have a real urban place where there are lots of rental properties for the offices and you don’t have to travel a lot, then it’s going to be smaller. If you’ve got a really big riding where you have to cover long distances … it could be a little bit more.”

There are staff throughout the 36 days, working in the office, at advance polls and of course, on election day.

All candidates who receive a certain threshold of votes are eligible for 60 per cent reimbursement of their campaign expenses.

Leading up to election day, there are three remaining debates for candidates:

• On Monday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m., the Brandon University Students’ Union and Brandon University Politics Society host an all-candidates debate at the Rowe Theatre on the second floor of the Education Building. The debate is open to the public.

• The Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Byelection Forum Luncheon takes place Wednesday, Nov. 20, starting at 11 a.m. at the Victoria Inn’s Imperial Ballroom. The public is welcome, but must buy a ticket. Tickets $25. Doors open at 11 a.m.

• The Brandon Sun, along with Westman Communications Group and CKLQ/Star FM, will hold a Brandon-Souris Byelection Candidates Debate at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Keystone Centre’s amphitheatre.

» jaustin@brandonsun.com