The City is encouraging Red Deer voters to take advantage of Advance Vote opportunities this Thanksgiving weekend and cast their ballots early.
Red Deer voters can vote at any one of three Advance Vote polls, open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until October 16:
- Westerner Park: 4847A 19 Street
- Baymont by Wyndham Red Deer: 4311 49 Avenue
- Parkland Mall: 359 50 Avenue
“Live wait times for each voting station are available on our Election website to make voting even easier,” said Returning Officer Samantha Rodwell. “Voters can select whichever station is quickest and most convenient to them.”
Advance Voting began on October 4 and has continued each day since. In the first four days of Advance Vote, unofficial counts show 2,984 voters cast their ballots, broken down as follows:
- Monday, October 4: 732 voters cast their ballot.
- Tuesday, October 5: 762 voters cast their ballot.
- Wednesday, October 6: 769 voters cast their ballot.
- Thursday, October 7: 721 voters cast their ballot.
“We have taken many precautions to ensure voting stations are safe during the pandemic, including adding more opportunities to vote,” said Rodwell. “Voting early is not only convenient but will help us to reduce crowding on Election Day.”
Enhanced health and safety measures are in place to ensure voting stations are safe for both voters and Election staff. All voters and staff are required to wear a mask, and voting stations will operate at one-third capacity to ensure proper distancing is in place. Voters are also provided with single-use pens, or can choose to bring their own.
On Election Day, October 18, Red Deer voters who have not already voted will have a choice of one of eight voting stations across the city.
Red Deer voters can cast their vote for positions of Mayor, Councillors and School Board Trustees, and can also vote for the provincial Senate election and two referendum questions. Information about candidates and voting opportunities are available on the Elections website at elections.reddeer.ca.