The countdown to the federal election is on — Niagara-on-the-Lake residents can make their voices heard starting as early as next week.
The candidates running for office are incumbent Tony Baldinelli from the Conservative Party of Canada, Andrea Kaiser from the Liberal Party of Canada, Shannon Mitchell from the New Democratic Party, Celia Taylor from the Green Party of Canada, Daniel Shakhmundes from the Libertarian Party of Canada, Dinah Althorpe from the People’s Party of Canada and Yawar Anwar from the Centrist Party of Canada.
Residents vote on election day, Monday, April 28.
But advance voting starts Friday, April 18 and goes until April 21: Voters can cast their ballots at their assigned polling station on any of those days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Since it’s a federal election, residents can only vote at their assigned polling station on advance polling days, unlike some provincial elections, where they can vote anywhere in the province.
To find the right polling station, residents can check their voter information card (received in the mail) or use the voter information service available on the Elections Canada website.
Registered residents should receive a voter information card by April 11.
If residents are unable to attend their assigned polling station on election day or during advance voting, they can vote at any of the (roughly) 500 Elections Canada offices before April 22 at 6 p.m. Hours vary by time zone, but polls will be open for 12 hours.
Elections Canada offices are open seven days a week: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
However, the Elections Canada website does not confirm if voting at these offices is allowed on advance voting days — April 18 to 21 — so it’s best to check with Elections Canada directly.
Voting by mail is also an option if residents apply by April 22 at 6 p.m. The application form is on the Elections Canada website under “Ways to vote.”
Residents who aren’t voting at their assigned station or who are voting by mail will vote using “the special ballot process” and must apply for it by April 22 and return their completed ballot by April 28.
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa is not endorsing any candidate and never does; he still urges residents to participate in this election.
“(I) encourage residents to do their homework and learn about all the options and make sure that they exercise their right to vote,” he said.
To vote, residents have three ways to prove their identity and address.
First, residents can show one piece of government-issued ID that has their photo, name and current address, such as a driver’s licence.
If that is not available, residents can show two pieces of ID — both must have their name and at least one must show their current address.
If residents do not have any ID, they can still vote if someone who knows them and is assigned to their polling station vouches for them. The person vouching must be able to prove their own identity and address and can only vouch for one resident, unless they are in a long-term care facility.
