Long line ups at some advance polling stations ahead of election

By CKOM News Oct 9, 2015 | 7:21 PM

The election is still a week away, but many voters were willing to wait in line to cast their ballots early in advance polls in Regina.

“I was very surprised,” said Jayme Walker, after leaving one advance polling station in the Regina-Lewvan riding early Friday afternoon. “For voting they usually want to make it as easy and quick as possible, or so I thought, but today was an hour long wait and with my one-year-old it’s not really feasible today.”

Walker said she will definitely be coming back to vote this weekend because it is very important and she will be out of town on October 19.

“In my case I just want to get it over with because it seems like this campaign has been dragging out for quite some time now,” Emily Erhardt commented after leaving the polling station.

She thought she would avoid the line, but says she was pleasantly surprised by the number of people choosing to vote early.

“It was about an hour, it was pretty long, there was a few disgruntled people in the line but all in all we’re happy to fulfill our duty as citizens,” she said. “I figured it would be a little shorter on Friday because people are at work, but I guess that wasn’t the case today which is fine. It’s good to see participation up.”

Rick Leniuk also wanted to vote early because he will be traveling on election day.

“I think people want to vote, it’s actually good to see the good turn-out,” he said. “I hope it shows on election day that we get this type of turn-out.”

Sheri Seidel was able to vote quickly with no wait at a different polling station in the riding of Regina-Wascana. She heard the line-up was long around noon.

“I just think it’s important that people get out and do their job,” she said. “This election is probably more important than any election we’ve had in recent years and turn-out needs to improve.”

Seidel is optimistic that more people might remember to vote because they will have time on the long weekend.

Advance polls are open between noon and 8 p.m. on Friday through to Monday.