Decided voters take advantage of advance polls

Advance polls for the 43rd Canadian federal election opened Friday.

Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Monday, local polling stations can be found on voter information cards that were mailed out last week, or by visiting the voter information service.

There was a steady stream of voters flowing in and out of St. Mary’s School, a polling station in the Saskatoon West riding.

Many of the voters were sharing the same sentiment.

“No lineups,” said Vye Remenda, with an ear-to-ear grin as she left the polling station.

“It’s over with and I voted.”

Remenda wasn’t the only one.

Judy Wyatt took advantage of voting before the long weekend, and she admits her decision was finalized long before Friday.

“I had my mind made up before, but I didn’t like the way that (the party leaders) were so negative about everything. I wanted to know what their policies were and what their platforms was. That’s why I waited,” she said.

The relief of voting early and not having to closely follow the remainder of the campaign was an added bonus for many as well.

“I will be so glad that it’s over and done with,” Wyatt said.

Barbara and Brian Green have made a habit of voting in the advanced poll for each election.

The remaining 10 days of the campaign won’t be getting much of their attention.

“A lot of babbling then they do nothing,” Brian said of comments he hears on local newscasts. “It’s done, I don’t have to worry about it now.”

Much of the election, and the accompanying media coverage, has exhausted Barbara.

“We used to have civil elections, and now we’re getting American politics — I don’t even listen to it,” she said.

“It’s ridiculous what (politicians) are offering to buy a vote,” Brian said.

Decided voters can also cast ballots at any one of the 500 Elections Canada offices by Tuesday at 6 p.m.