The inaccuracies of Voting by mail

Dear editor,

Recent radio and tv reports have intimated that the blame for the voting "botchup" should be placed on the shoulders of Canada Post. While they are "big boys" and definitely can defend themselves, as a "postie",concerned voter and long time resident, I have to ask: How accurate and complete was the database that Canada Post was supplied with from the Town Office?????

Canada Post's position has always been to deliver mail "as addressed" in a professional and expedient manner. Only exception would be if someone had a valid current change of address registered. That is exactly what was done.

Without specifics I can tell you first hand that I delivered ballots to

addresses for persons I've never heard of and I've known the household for years. I had one ballot handed back to me and the resident told me he'd lived in that house for about 20 years and no one by that name had ever lived there. Another woman asked me why I'd given her 14 year old son a ballot. A relative of mine, who has been deceased for more than 15 years received a ballot. Another postie received a ballot in her married and her

maiden name. And she's been married for more than a decade.

These problems are just a few that I encountered, only a very small portion of the entire mailout.

In general, I would think the majority of residents would return the ballots unopened, but there are a few (hopefully not many) that would take advantage and use the vote. Some say "but they must sign the declaration". Well, if they were dishonest enough to

cast a second ballot, why wouldn't they sign the declaration?

Let's just hope that there isn't a tight race going on when all the ballots are counted. I'd hate to see what a recount would entail. But I do think the candidates and the people of Innisfil deserve an explanation as to why the database the town has is so inaccurate.

NOTE: NAME WITHHELD PURPOSELY FOR FEAR OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION.