A sign outside of the Redcliff Seniors Drop-in Centre shows voters it's a location where they can vote in the advance poll. - Photo by Colton McKee

By Charles Lefebvre

Many issues on minds of voters as advance polls open

Oct 11, 2019 | 3:34 PM

REDCLIFF, AB — The federal election is now in the home stretch, and voters are now able to have their say on who they want to represent them in Ottawa.

While election day takes place October 21, advance polls have opened across the country, including in the riding of Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.

In Redcliff, a steady stream of voters made their way into the advance polling station at the Seniors’ Drop-in Centre.

Tony Smith and Joanne Hunter both said they are travelling outside of the riding, and being able to vote at the advance poll allows them to have their voice heard.

“I was taught from the time I was first voting, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain,” said Hunter. “And I do like to complain about the government.”

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“It’s always important for me to vote any year,” said Smith.

Anke Munro was also taking advantage of the advance poll, saying it’s easier for her to go there due to less foot traffic.

Smith, Munro and Hunter each had different things on their mind as they went in to cast their ballot.

For Hunter, the pipeline situation is at the top of her mind.

“Because I think it matters so much to us in Alberta,” she said. “You know, a lot of people are out of work, and the other parties don’t seem to give a darn, just the two main ones.”

Smith says the economy was informing his vote.

“I think we’re running up big debts that we can’t afford to continue with, and it’s all big trouble coming up in the future,” he said.

For Munro, health care was the biggest issue on her mind.

“I would like the health questions answered when I do ask questions, and my medical bills are quite high, and I feel that’s a very important thing to me personally,” she said.

Munro added she was disappointed that no federal election candidate knocked on her door during the election.

“It’s very difficult for me to get out to the actual meetings that they have, and this time I was not able to talk to anyone, and it was really disappointing,” she said.

Advance polls are open October 11-14 from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. You have to vote on the advance poll location listed on your Voter Information Card, which was mailed to your home address. More information about voting can be found here.

Information about acceptable identification to vote can be found here.