Kamloops residents urged to vote as advance polls open

Oct 10, 2018 | 3:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — With the city’s municipal election nearing, polls have officially opened for advance voters and there are some things residents need to know before they vote.

Advance polling began at Heritage House at 100 Lorne St. earlier today, Oct. 10, and it will be open twice more before election day on Oct. 20.

You don’t need to register to vote beforehand — as long as you bring one piece of identification with a signature on it and another with proof of your address, you’ll be set.

City of Kamloops Chief Election Officer Scott Redgrove says in an effort to increase voter turnout, the city puts on three days of advanced voting instead of the required two.

“The turnout has been pretty good at the advanced poll over the last couple of elections, I think there’s been about 1,200 people per day for the three days,” Redgrove says. “We’re anticipating something similar this time. We’d like the turnout to increase but there’s no telling at this point whether it will.”

Redgrove says voter turnout for municipal elections has been stuck for some time at roughly 30 per cent across BC and the country, which he wants to see change.

“It’s my view that the local elections should count at least as much as the provincial and the federal,” Redgrove says. “I mean this is literally where the rubber hits the road. Decisions made on a weekly basis by mayor and council members have a direct impact on people’s quality of life.”

The advance poll at Heritage House will be open Oct. 11 and Oct. 17 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and 16 voting locations will be open on general election day.

For everything you need to know about voting, candidates and other municipal election issues, go here.