On October sixth Ontarians will return to the polls for the Provincial election. Premier candidates include Progressive Conservative Party leader Tim Hudak, New Democrat Party leader Andrea Horwath, Green Party Leader Mike Shreiner, and incumbent Premier Dalton McGuinty of the Liberal Party.
There are five candidates running in the Kitchener-Waterloo riding: Eric Davis of the Liberal Party , Isabel Cisterna of the New Democrat Party, J.D. McGuire of the Green Party, Progressive Conservative Party candidate and current M.P.P. Elizabeth Witmer, and Peter Davis, running as an independent candidate.
Eligibility to vote is determined by four key factors. Those who wish to vote must be Canadian citizens of at least 18 years of age and residing in the electoral district in which they plan to vote. They also cannot have cast a previous vote within the same election.
Students eligible to vote have the option of doing so in either Waterloo or their hometown. In either case, registering as a voter requires one piece of identification bearing both the voter’s name and residential address. It is important that the address given on the identification is within the electoral district selected. Such documentation includes government-issue pieces, such as an Ontario driver’s license. However, there are several alternative forms of identification including a tuition statement, residential lease, or utility bill (hydro, gas). A full list of acceptable documentation is available online through Elections Ontario.
Eligible voters may register to do so by mail until Friday. Those on the Voters List should receive a Notice of Registration Card, which should be brought to the vote. Along with the card, a piece of identification bearing the voter’s name must still be brought. There is also an option of registering at the poll on Election Day. This process requires that the identification provided must bear both voter’s name and residential address. The bearer may then be added to the Voters List.
In this election there will be various opportunities for students to vote in Waterloo. Advanced polls will be available in the SLC Great Hall September 28th and 29th (today and tomorrow). To utilize the advanced polls, students must simply register their vote. Voting can also be accomplished by mail or special ballot, though these methods are generally less popular than the in-person process. There is also the option of voting on Election Day, October 6th, where shuttle service will be provided to off-campus polling stations.
Every time an election is called, people ignore the contributions that students can make, especially in an area like Waterloo Region with such a high student population. So take a little bit of time to learn about the candidates, and actually go out and vote, otherwise you are taking a passive approach to politics and really can’t complain about the results. See you at the polls.
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