Sunday October 13, 2019 ~ COLWOOD
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
This weekend there has been a good turnout in the west shore for advance voting for the federal election.
And that includes Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke incumbent Randall Garrison (NDP) who voted on Thanksgiving Sunday afternoon at 1 pm in Colwood at the Colwood Pentecostal Church polling station location on Sooke Road.
Garrison had to wait in line for a few minutes … the after-lunch period was busy with voters of all ages for the advance voting opportunity.
Polling stations are open the entire Thanksgiving long weekend right across Canada. Voting opportunities are from 9 am to 9 pm on Friday October 11, Saturday October 12, Sunday October 13, and Monday October 14.
Garrison said today that with a week left in the campaign his team’s focus is on getting as many people out to vote as possible. “It’s great people can take advantage of this weekend with four days of advance polls,” said Garrison after he popped his ballot into the ballot box today and exited the building into the mid-day sunshine.
Outside the building Garrison chatted with several voters who were keen to wish him good luck.
Garrison’s team will be covering the whole area of the large Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding this week. “We have support throughout the riding — we’ll focus on contacting people who we’ve talked to at the door and on the phones, encouraging them to get out and vote.”
“We’ve run out of signs a week ahead — that’s a good sign!,” said Garrison with a smile.
“For most people the main issue in this election is the affordability question,” says Garrison, particularly pharmacare and dentacare. “Lots of seniors and young families don’t have drug coverage and are concerned about the strain it puts on their finances,” says Garrison.
As for voting NDP when that could potentially split the progressive vote, especially in a riding now seen as highly competitive: “I’ve never advised people to vote strategically. People should vote for the kind of Canada they think it should be,” said Garrison.
Garrison says a record advance voting turnout among students is expected in this 2019 election. He says that Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke is being called “a riding to watch”.
Garrison has served two terms in the House of Commons as the MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. He urges people to vote this weekend if they think they may not be available to vote on the October 21 general election day: “These preliminary polls will prove to be a pivotal part of who wins on election night.”
When heading out to vote, take along your Voter Information Card and at least one other piece of ID with your name and address (in total you need two pieces of ID, of which the voter card can be one).
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More:
Busy advance voting in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke this weekend (October 12, 2019)
How and where:Advance Voting October 11 to 14, 2019