A winter storm hit parts of Manitoba hard over the weekend, worsening the flood situation in many parts of the province. That storm system has also had an impact on the electoral process in at least one community, so far.
In the Brandon/Souris electoral district, about 180 people who were registered to vote at polling station 14, at the Oak Lake Community Hall in Oak Lake, Manitoba are now making the 45 minute trip to the nearby community of Kenton to cast their ballots, because of flooded roads.
Rather than going to 438 North Railway Street in Oak Lake, voters registered in that district are now being asked to go to the Kenton Community Hall at 219 Cornwall Street in Kenton.
“We do know that in some instances, electors will have to travel longer distances to vote because of the flooding,” said Leanne Nyirfa, spokesperson for Elections Canada.
Nyirfa found out on Sunday afternoon that the local returning officer had made the decision to move the poll due to flood waters in the area. Because of the last-minute change, Elections Canada officials and the local returning officer have been working hard to notify local voters of the change through radio ads and phone calls. They also plan to station someone at the closed polling station to inform voters of the new location in Kenton.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into changing a poll,” Nyirfa said, “It can be done, but it’s just that sometimes it takes a little bit of time just to get everything all set up and know that they’ll be able to run efficiently the next day.”
Officials have also been busy making plans to help accommodate people who have been forced from their homes due to the floods, and are currently living in Winnipeg-area hotels.
“People who were evacuated from Roseau River in Provencher or Peguis in the riding of Selkirk/Interlake, we will be having polling stations in Winnipeg for electors from Roseau River who remain evacuated who are known to be staying at a certain hotel in the city, and for Peguis people, we’re going to have two mobile polls that will be travelling to hotels in and near Winnipeg, where electors are known to be saying,” Nyirfa added.
There will also be polling stations within the communities for people who were not evacuated, or for people who have been able to return home.
“We’ve been in contact with community leaders and the candidates over the weekend to let these effected electors know that they will have an opportunity to vote today, if they wish.”
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