INNISFAIL – The final advanced polls for both Innisfail and Penhold have shown early signs of dramatically increased voter interest in both towns for tomorrow's (Oct. 16) municipal election.
Innisfailians set a new record in town for the number of citizens choosing to cast an early vote on Oct. 6, 7 and 14, while there was a 48 per cent increase in Penhold's advanced vote.
Heather Whymark, the returning officer for the Town of Innisfail, said 247 citizens attended the town's final advanced vote on Oct. 14 in the Community Room at the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre. For the advance votes on Oct. 6 and 7, the two-day total was 280. The grand total for the three advance votes was 527, which Whymark said was a record. The total advanced vote total for 2013 was 208.
“This is definitely a record that was set,” she said.
Meanwhile in Penhold, the town also hosted its first and only advance vote on Oct. 14 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Penhold Regional Library. Bonnie Stearns, the town's returning officer, said 185 citizens voted in advance of the Oct. 16 election; a 48 per cent increase over 2013 when 125 Penholders chose to cast their votes early.
As for the high turnout for early voting in Innisfail, Whymark is attributing it to the many new voters this year compared to the last municipal election in 2013.
“I do hear this is new for quite a few of them (voters), that they didn't vote in the last election so they are voting in this one, and that they have a mayor to choose from. That is what I am hearing most, that there was no choice last time. He was acclaimed,” said Whymark. Incumbent mayor Brian Spiller, who was acclaimed in 2013, is facing former mayor Jim Romane in the current election.
As well, Whymark noted there is 6,254 eligible voters this election, compared to about 5,000 in 2013. She said the increase is due to the changing demographics of the town as reflected in the 2016 census.
“It is a big difference. We hope we get more (voters),” she said.
Meanwhile, Red Deer County reported last week that 162 citizens of the rural municipality cast votes at the advance polls at the county's administration centre on Oct. 5 and 7. A county spokesperson said this year's two-day total for the Oct. 16 municipal election is a slight increase from the 2013 election.
Bowden held its advance vote on Oct. 12, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the town office for the two-candidate mayor race and for school trustee. The six council seats were acclaimed. Totals from Oct. 12 advanced vote were not immediately available.
As for tomorrow's (Oct. 16) election day, Innisfail has one polling station – inside the Community Room at the library/learning centre, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The office of mayor and six councillors will be elected for a four-year term. The election of Catholic School Board trustees will also take place at the Innisfail polling station on election day.
In Penhold, the regional multiplex is the only polling station and it will be open today for voters from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Penholders will be able to vote for mayor, councillors and their preferred school board trustee.
In Red Deer County, there are 23 voting stations spread across the six divisions of the rural municipality. To find the correct location to cast votes for mayor, councillor and public school trustee, citizens can go to the full list at http://rdcounty.ca/440/Where-Do-I-Vote
In Bowden, polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bowden Friendship Centre.
Election officials from all municipalities are reminding citizens to bring authorized identification that shows both name and current physical address.
Heather Whymark, returning officer for the Town of Innisfail
"I do hear this is new for quite a few of them (voters), that they didn't vote in the last election so they are voting in this one, and that they have a mayor to choose from. That is what I am hearing most, that there was no choice last time. He was acclaimed."
