WINDSOR, ONT. -- If advance polls are any indication, a pandemic isn’t keeping residents from participating in democracy.
This is an early byelection story. Here's the updated article with results.
According to figures released by the City of Windsor, 2,764 ballots were cast in the Ward 7 byelection.
This represents a turnout of 15.1 per cent so far.
Here’s the breakdown, of each advance polling date
- Sept. 29 - 714
- Sept. 30 - 642
- Oct. 1 - 554
- Oct. 3 - 854
Monday, the lone polling station at the WFCU Centre will be open until 8 p.m.
All day, there has been a steady stream of voters, who can either vote inside, or curb side.
Jules Vermette chose to park and go into the building because, “there’s more traffic than inside, so a little walk won’t do us no harm.”
Fritz Bode chose to stay in his car because, “I was told it was less time.”
Voters were well aware of the issues, and Dennis Dent came hoping a new councillor will help his community.
“The issue in my neighbourhood, is a lack of police enforcement in my neighbourhood, people speeding, running stop signs,” he says.
Meanwhile for the city’s Manager of Records and Elections, Terri Knight-Lepain, this is her first election — during a pandemic.
“We’re doing almost twice as many ballots curb side as we are inside,” she said.
Voters who want to go into the polling station will face the typical COVID-19 screening questions and if they are turned away for any reason, they are welcome to cast a ballot from their vehicle until 8 p.m. Monday.
The Ward 7 spot has been vacant since Liberal candidate Irek Kusmierczyk was elected as Windsor-Tecumseh MP in the federal election on Oct. 21, 2019.
There are 12 candidates running for the for the position: Greg Lemay, Farah El-Hajj, Michelle Gajewski, Jeewen Gill, Igor Dzaic, Barb Holland, Ernie Lamont, Michael Malott, Angelo Marignani, Howard Weeks, Thérèse Papineau and Albert Saba.
Voting is available at the WFCU Centre Sports Gym at 8787 McHugh St. from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. There were four advance voting days last week.
After the polls close, a live by-election results program will enable residents to view the unofficial results online as they become available.
More to come.
