Advance polls open Friday

For people who won’t be able to cast their ballot in the federal election on Oct. 21, there are other options.

One of those is advance polling stations. They open on Friday and will stay open through the long weekend from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

Those times are different than on election day itself. On Oct. 21, the polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Marie-France Kenny with Elections Canada said the advance poll option has become popular with voters.

“The last election, there were 100,000 more people who voted in Saskatchewan, and there was double the number of people who voted by advance polls,” said Kenny.

She said it can be a convenient way for people to cast their ballot, as there are usually smaller lineups than on election day, and the weekend can be more convenient for many people.

“The advance polls last time were also during a long weekend, so people have more time on the weekend to go out and vote,” she said.

Kenny said this year, officials have made the hours longer at the advance polls and have also streamlined the process, so you shouldn’t be at the polling station as long.

“Before, you had to write out your name and sign beside it, but now you don’t have to do that. You can go straight to vote or to register,” said Kenny.

For more information on where you can cast your ballot, either on election day or in an advance poll, check out the Elections Canada webpage.