(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Advanced poll turnout could be due to variety of factors, says political science instructor

Oct 15, 2021 | 6:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT,AB- With a steady stream of voters making their way to the polls during the advanced vote in Medicine Hat, a local political science instructor says that could be indicative of what’s to come.

Jim Groom, a political science instructor at Medicine Hat College says a high advance turnout usually translates into good turnout on election night. Groom says in a typical election year, people heading the polls early is usually a reflection of the discontent with the status quo.

“It sends a bit of a message that usually we can predict that the governments or the incumbents will take it on their chins a little bit,” he said.

But this year isn’t a typical election year, according to Groom with COVID-19, and the high number of candidates to choose from.

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“ I think two things kick in here, people are anticipating that there is going to be a delay just for people to go through the ballot, and make all the selections for the senate and mayor and council and school boards and I think they are anticipating a bit of a delay and so the Advanced Polls may be more popular at this stage because of that just to avoid all of those lineups on Monday. ” he said.

Advanced polling continues in Medicine Hat until 8 p.m. tonight and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4.pm. Voters can cast their ballot at the Hockey Hounds Arena or the grandstand at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede.

In Redcliff, advanced voting takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m on Saturday at the Redcliff Library