Reginans vote on last day of advanced polls for federal election

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With one week until election day, Regina voters shared on Monday why they chose to cast their ballots early.

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For Reneé Wahl, the accessibility of advanced polls meant she could avoid the potentially long lines on April 28.

“I’m not able to stay somewhere for like a super long time, mobility wise, and so it’s nice to be able to come and vote quickly and then head out,” said Wahl after voting at Campbell Collegiate on Monday morning.

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She estimated it took approximately 10 minutes or less.

Wahl said she usually takes advantage of early voting options because they give “more flexibility” due to the window of advanced polling days she can make work for her schedule.

A number of other voters in the Regina-Wascana riding were also at Campbell Collegiate on the last day of advanced polls. Several stations were open across the city starting on Good Friday through to Easter Monday.

Bernice Andrusiak doesn’t typically vote ahead of election day but, being new to Regina, she needed a little extra time to find out where her polling station was located.

It also didn’t hurt that spring has finally arrived, she said.

“Well, I thought the weather’s not too bad,” Andrusiak said outside an advance voting location at the Regina Humane Society (RHS).

“I just hope that the right man gets in,” she added.

Michelle Foster and her young family were at the Campbell polls on Monday morning. She typically goes ahead of time and was glad that both of her children — although not old enough to vote — got the chance to come along this year while students are on Easter break.

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“It’s good for the kids to kind of watch,” Foster said. “I know they probably don’t quite understand what voting is, but it’s so good for them to come with us and see that we vote. It’s important.”

Other factors in the decision to vote early included the flexibility of advance polling and the expectation that it would be less chaotic than election day.

“It’s not as busy is one of the reasons,” said Foster. “Especially with a busy family, and honestly I think it was more about just the ease of it.”

Meanwhile, it was Stella Adebanjo’s first visit to an advance poll when she cast a ballot at RHS on Monday. She typically votes in elections and feels it’s a “civic duty” to engage with politics.

“We are at a very crucial moment,” she said, “so we just have to come out and do it and make our voice count.”

nyking@postmedia.com

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