Advance polls see ‘positive turnout’

Locations have had steady traffic, says returning officer

Voters are showing up for advance polls, says Tony Verrelli, Elections Ontario Niagara Centre returning officer.

“We’re getting a positive turnout and we’ve had good numbers,” he said Friday afternoon.

Advance polls in Ontario for the June 2 election opened Thursday with some locations running for 10 days and others only three days.

Verrelli said turnout was steady, but also weather dependent.

“People don’t really want to go out when it’s pouring.”

Voting ahead of election day is a convenience for people from multiple standpoints, he said.

“They can avoid lineups and be in and out in a short period, or if they have appointments on June 2, they can vote now.”

Verrelli said there haven’t been too many questions about where advance polling stations are in Niagara Centre, which covers south St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland and Port Colborne.

“Most people are familiar with the areas.”

He said the returning office at Rose City Plaza, 815 Ontario Rd. Unit 140, is still looking for people, whether they be high school students as young as 16 or other individuals, to work before and on election day.

“They can apply online through Elections Ontario or call our office. Elections Ontario has a good app.”

Those looking to apply online can submit an application through jobs.elections.on.ca/en/apply and the app can be found online on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store. People can also call 1-833-605-1667.

Advance polls in Niagara Centre can be found at Four Points by Sheraton, 3530 Schmon Parkway, Unit 4007 in Thorold from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., through Saturday; L.R. Wilson Heritage Research

Archives, 286 King St., Port Colborne; and Youngs Sportsplex, 570 River Rd., Welland, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 19 to 28.

In the Niagara Falls riding, advance polls can be found at Fort Erie Leisureplex Banquet Hall, 3 Municipal Centre Dr., Fort Erie; MacBain Community Centre, 7150, Montrose Rd., Niagara Falls; and Niagara-onthe-Lake Community Centre, 14 Anderson Ln., Niagara-onthe-Lake. All are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 19 to 28.

The Niagara Falls riding returning office is located at 6080 McLeod Rd. Unit 7, Niagara Falls, and can be reached at 1833-605-1668

Advance polls in the Niagara West riding can be found at the Elizabeth Street Pumphouse, 447 Elizabeth St., Grimsby; Fleming Centre, 5020 Serena Dr., Beamsville; and Old Pelham Town Hall, 491 Canboro Rd., Pelham. All are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 19 to 28.

Also in Niagara West, advance polls are open at Heritage Village Recreation Club, 3425 Frederick Ave., Vineland, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 24 to 27; and Wainfleet Arena Moore Road, 31917 Park St., Wainfleet, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 23 to 27.

The Niagara West returning office is located at the Village Square, 239 Catharine St., Unit 2, Smithville, and can be reached at 1-833-605-1669.

In the St. Catharines riding, advance polls are open at the Armenian Community Centre, 156 Martindale Rd.; Merritton Community Centre, 7 Park Ave.; Russell Avenue Community Centre, 108 Russell Ave.; and St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, 91 Lakeshore Rd.; from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 19 to 28.

The St. Catharines returning office is located at 585 Niagara St., St. Catharines and can be reached at 1-833-605-1671.

Voting on election day takes place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and residents should have or will receive cards in the mail telling them where their polling stations are located.