Voting kits to be mailed end of next week

Your Vote by Mail kit will be mailed by Canada Post on October 20th. Each kit contain a voter declaration form, ballot, security envelope and return envelope. photo by Michelle Minnoch

There was a vote by mail open house held at the Churchill Community Centre last Thursday, informing candidates and residents about the timeline and the process.

Vote by mail kits will be mailed out by Canada Post on Friday, October 20th, and those kits should be received by residents between October 23rd - 27th. The voting period is between October 23rd - November 3rd, and the suggested mailing date is no later than November 3rd.

The kit is comprised of two forms; a voter declaration form which includes voter instructions on the back, and the ballot form. The kit also contains two envelopes; a secrecy envelope to place your ballot in, and the yellow pre-paid return envelope. If the information is correct,

do not forget to sign the voter declaration form. The signed declaration form ensures the voter is eligible to vote in the Innisfil election.

If the information in the kit is not correct, you are asked to call the clerk's office at (705) 436-3710.

Once you have marked your ballot, place your ballot inside the secrecy envelope, and put that and your voter declaration form in the return envelope.

Each ballot contains a bar code which is scanned upon tabulation. Each registered voter is assigned to a code to ensure each voter only votes once. If your ballot becomes crumpled or if coffee is spilled on it, for example, the ballot is still good and your vote can still be counted.

Voters can use a pen or pencil to mark their ballot. Before the kits are scheduled

to go in the mail, residents are encouraged to go onto the towns website (www.innisfil. ca) and check to ensure they are on the voters list. Click on the election 2006 link and not only can you make sure you are on the list, there is also a list of frequently asked questions and answers available to aid through this new process for the Town of Innisfil.

Those who do not want to mail their ballot can drop their sealed envelope off at Clerk's Service located in the Town office.

Residents who want to vote in a traditional matter can do so at the only polling station open on November 13th, Churchill Community Centre. Bring your ballot kit in between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm.

The municipal election date is November 13th.