EDMONTON- A local seniors advocate is voicing concerns after the City pulled polling stations out of some assisted living facilities for the upcoming municipal election.
“If they can’t vote, they’ve lost their voice,” said Ruth Adria with the Elder Advocates of Alberta Society. “There are numbers of people who will be denied the right to vote because there seems to have been a decrease in some polling booths and in some centres they’ve been removed. And we find that very troubling.”
The City says it is dedicated to ensuring every Edmontonian has ample opportunity to cast a ballot. On October 16 and 17, seniors will have the chance to vote at one of 26 care centres in the city.
“We’ve increased the number of advanced vote dates. We’ve gone from two Saturdays in the wards to 10 days in the quadrants,” said Alayne Sinclair, returning officer with Edmonton Elections. “So the number of opportunities a person has to get to a voting station has increased.”
And those who may not be able to get to one of the care centres or advanced polls are encouraged to apply for a mail-in ballot.
“No voter is without a voting opportunity. There is many opportunities that these individuals have and they don’t even have to leave the residence to vote. They can use our special mail-in ballot process, which they can have the ballot in their hand and vote at any time,” said Sinclair.
Those applying for a mail-in ballot must request one by 4:30 p.m. on election day, Monday October, 21. Mail-in ballots can be requested online, over the phone by calling 780-442-8683, or in person at the Elections and Census Office located at 16304-114 Avenue.
For a full list of the care centres offering polling stations, visit the City of Edmonton’s website.
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