Elections Canada introduces new tracking tool for mail and special ballot voting

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/08/2021 (1748 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON— Elections Canada is taking steps to ensure Canadians have easy access to cast their ballot in the upcoming federal election.

A new tool has been added to the website to provide information on special ballot voting kits. It is designed to provide data on how many Canadians have asked for a special ballot kit, to vote by mail or to vote at an Elections Canada office from inside or outside of their riding or from another country.

Insights will also be provided to let Canadians know how many kits have been returned.

Users will be able to see the top 10 jurisdictions where vote-by-mail kits have been issued to electors voting abroad.

A record number of mail-in votes are expected for the 2021 federal election as Canada faces the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Up to 5 million Canadians are expected to use mail-in ballots rather than show up in person to vote.

The last federal election saw more than 50,000 people choose the mail-in option, most of them Canadians who were out of the country and had no other choice.

Canadians can apply online or at any Elections Canada office for mail-in ballot kits. The deadline for applications is 6 p.m. on Sept. 14. Once an application is submitted voters will be unable to cast their ballot at the advance polls or in-person on election day.

The Brandon Sun conducted an informal poll at the Global Market on Saturday asking residents, “Do you plan on voting in-person for the federal election?”

Linda Clearsky said she will be voting on Sept. 20 because she prefers casting her ballot on the official election day. She explained waiting for the official day gives her time to better understand the platforms of candidates.

She’s interested to see what candidates have to say, and to learn what promises have been made or broken.

“I’ll do it in-person and take my adult children with me,” Clearsky said.

Vickie White said she is comfortable voting in person.

“I’m a nurse and I’ve been vaccinated and I’ve been following all the rules. I think if you do that, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Deciding between mail-in or in-person voting is a challenging decision, said Sherri Hurdal.

She is waiting to see where the province’s COVID-19 measures and case numbers stand when it is closer to the election. She appreciates having different options to cast her ballot when the time comes.

“I think it’s important that we all do [vote],” Hurdal said.

Having different options for voting is especially important for rural Canadians, said Graeme Knight. He is looking forward to casting his ballot and appreciates steps are being taken to ensure everyone has different options to vote.

Knight said mail-in ballot options are especially important because they can serve as an opportunity to ensure rural voters head to the polls.

“If there’s an easily accessible at-home voting, like if I can vote online or a mail-in the vote, I would probably prefer that,” Knight said.

The 2021 federal election marks his first time voting since moving to a rural area south of Brandon and it can be challenging planning his schedule to vote.

“Especially when the weather starts getting cold … September could be anything,” Knight said. “I just hope the election goes smoothly.”

Jonathan Lovegrove said he plans on voting in-person this year.

“I’m vaccinated. We’re going to be wearing masks when we go into those spaces and I think that’s my comfort level right now.”

He has not looked into advanced polls or mail-in ballots and said he likely will not because it is not complicated to cast a ballot on election day and attend a regular poll.

“It’s such a short cycle this time, that there’s not a lot of time to hear what they have to say if we vote in advance,” Lovegrove said.

Elections Canada said voting in-person remains the easiest way to cast a ballot, but is watching as the health crisis continues to change.

Those who visit a poll on election day can expect to see Plexiglas barriers installed, social distancing in place and bottles of hand sanitizer readily available.

Elections Canada has cautioned that sanitizing surfaces between ballots being cast could make waits longer than usual.

Elections workers and in-person voters will be required to wear masks.

Elections Canada said it will have special ballot boxes stationed at regular polling locations so those who requested to vote by mail can drop off their ballot on election day to ensure it is received by the deadline.

For more information on voting by mail and special ballot voting, go to elections.ca or call 1-800-463-6868.

—With files from The Canadian Press

 

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp