If you’ve already got your mind made up on who is getting your vote in Canada’s 43rd general election on Monday, Oct. 21, you don’t have to wait to mark your ballot.
From now until Oct. 15 at 6 p.m., there are three Elections Canada voting stations set up in Newmarket and Aurora where you can vote by what’s known as a special ballot process.
Several local residents have posted excitedly on social media that they've done their civic duty, well in advance of voting day.
But as Newmarket resident Dianne Wood notes, voters must write in the name of the person they are voting for since potential candidates have until 21 days before election day to register, or Sept. 30 in this case.
“So, I’m done! I voted today at the advance poll in Newmarket at the Nature’s Emporium Plaza,” Wood said on a local Facebook group.
Voting by special ballot is a different way to vote than what happens during advance polling days or on election day.
When you vote by special ballot, you provide proof of your identity and address to the Elections Canada clerk, and you are given a ballot with instructions on how to cast your vote.
You go behind a screen, mark your ballot, and return to see the election worker. You will be given two envelopes: first, you put your ballot in the unmarked inner envelope and seal it; and then you put the first envelope in an outer envelope and seal it.
Lastly, you read the declaration on the outer envelope, sign it, and put it into the ballot box.
Your vote will be kept secret, Elections Canada states. When it’s time to count the ballots, the election worker removes all unmarked inner envelopes from their signed outer envelopes. Only the unmarked inner envelopes are returned to the ballot box. This ensures no envelope can be traced back to the voter.
Here are the three closest voting locations in Newmarket and Aurora:
- Elections Canada - 16655 Yonge St., Unit 4, Newmarket. Hours: Open seven days a week on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
- Newmarket Inn - 18667 Old Yonge St., Holland Landing. Hours: Open seven days a week on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
- Elections Canada - 14785 Yonge St., Suite 104, Aurora. Hours: Open seven days a week on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
There are more than 500 Elections Canada offices open across the country until Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. for special ballot voting.
To find a location more convenient for you, visit here.
Advance polls will be open from Friday, Oct. 11 to Monday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at various locations throughout Newmarket and Aurora.
For more information on where and how you can vote, visit here.
