THUNDER BAY – As candidates hit the campaign trail, work at local riding offices is well underway to prepare for Election Day.
The writ for the 43rd federal election was officially drawn up on Wednesday, formally triggering the launch of the federal election campaign.
The riding offices in Thunder Bay-Superior North, located in County Fair Mall, and Thunder Bay-Rainy River, located in the Thunder Centre, are starting to take shape with the election looming in less than six weeks.
Thunder Bay-Superior North returning officer Dale Mason said the riding has just under 65,000 eligible voters with about 200 polls.
There is a need to hire workers to staff the polls, Mason said.
“We have nearly 700 positions to fill – 600 of them in Thunder Bay and then another 100 in the region around us,” Mason said, adding there are five different jobs available and that eligibility requirements have changed to allow people 16 and older to be hired.
“We’re hoping that we’ll get some young people who won’t be able to vote yet but happy working experience with us and then will realize how easy it is to vote and then themselves vote in the future.”
Thunder Bay-Rainy River returning officer Kevin O’Donnell said there are about 62,000 eligible voters in the riding, with 178 polls.
While voter information cards are expected to be mailed out beginning in the last week of September, people can go to the Elections Canada website to check to see if they are registered or their information needs to be corrected.
While most Canadians will head to the polls on Oct. 21, there are options for those looking to vote early.
Eligible voters can already cast their ballot, using the special ballot process at a riding office until Oct. 15. Next month, advance polls will be open from Oct. 11-14.
“People will be assigned a specific advanced poll,” O’Donnell said. “It’s not like provincial where you can go to any advanced poll and find your name on the list. You have to go to your specific one that’s assigned to you.”
At Lakehead University, an external service point office will be set up in the faculty lounge to provide special assistance.
“Any person at Lakehead University – a student, faculty member, worker or even a visitor – who is a Canadian citizen can vote,” Mason said, adding they require proper identification with proof of address. “If you’re a student at Lakehead but you’re really from Saskatoon, then you can at that poll here in Thunder Bay.”
The candidate nomination deadline is Sept. 30.
