Rain fell across the Saanich Peninsula as polling stations opened across the region, but the wet weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of students at Deep Cove Elementary School.
As voters walked into the school gym to cast their vote in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 43rd federal election, they skipped past students playing hopscotch and hanging out friends, their shrieks and giggles echoing through the schoolB次元官网网址檚 covered drop-off area.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a happy place to vote, because of all the kids,B次元官网网址� said Tom Westra, after he and his wife Linda, had voted. Like so many this morning, they did not have to wait long to cast their ballots.
B次元官网网址淭here was no line-up, it was fantastic,B次元官网网址� said Barb Butler, who brought her Labradoodle Boon to vote. B次元官网网址淚 was expecting more people here because itB次元官网网址檚 a pretty important election. But I think a lot of people have already voted.B次元官网网址�
David Tonken, central poll supervisor for the Deep Cove polling station, confirmed this. He estimates that about 40 per cent of voters assigned to his polling station have already cast their ballots.
B次元官网网址淲ell, I think they were afraid of the crowds and wanted to avoid them,B次元官网网址� said Tonken, when asked about the reason for the high turnout during early voting. B次元官网网址淭hat was a mistake because the advanced polls were more crowded than here.B次元官网网址�
Tonken said some 20 people had lined up outside the doors by 7 a.m. Monday. This initial rush has given away to a steady trickle of voters, many of them parents on their way to work after dropping off their children.
For Tonken, the high number of advanced voters is a positive development. B次元官网网址淚f we had advanced polls with lots of people, it means we are not going to be as crowded and people are going to be happy as they come through.B次元官网网址� It is also easier to protect the confidentiality of the vote, he added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really good experience for them [voters],B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey are in, they are out.B次元官网网址�
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The picture appeared similar in other parts of the Saanich Peninusla. The atmosphere inside of SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Mary Winspear Centre was hushed, if cavernous.
Vivian Klaiber, poll supervisor said turnout has been steady since doors opened.
B次元官网网址淭here have been no issues and no line-ups,B次元官网网址� she said.
Seventy-seven-year old Neil Howard was among those who voted Monday and called his voting experience B次元官网网址渢errificB次元官网网址� after expecting long line-ups. B次元官网网址淭here was no one in there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 was in and out in a matter of minutes.B次元官网网址�
For Howard, voting is an engrained behaviour. B次元官网网址淲e are one of the countries in the world that gives you the right to vote democratically, B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here some countries where people canB次元官网网址檛 do that. We can and I do.B次元官网网址�
While a slow morning does not say anything about the final turnout figures, Howard is concerned about the apparent lack of interest. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 disappointing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 suppose the weather is a large factor. I expected crowds here.B次元官网网址�
So what are the expectations of voters about the outcome?
B次元官网网址淚 really donB次元官网网址檛 have any expectations,B次元官网网址� said Butler. B次元官网网址淚 think we are voting for the lesser of all evils at this point,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 am really hoping that the candidate I voted for gets it.B次元官网网址�
Howard added, B次元官网网址渋t looks like it is going to be a minority government B次元官网网址� But who knows. One has no idea about these things. I was surprised when our friends down south voted Mr. Trump in. I realize we wonB次元官网网址檛 be facing that possibility, but who knows. ItB次元官网网址檚 disappointing that there is such a low turn out so far based on what I have seen here.B次元官网网址�
Back at Deep Cove Elementary, any number of curious little faces waiting for school to start poked their heads inside the gym to see what all the fuss was about.
Tonken welcomes this. B次元官网网址淭he kids see it, itB次元官网网址檚 part of the community,B次元官网网址� he said.
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