Thursday, September 19, 2019 ~ SOOKE [update to come with total number of votes for September 18 & 25 combined]
~ West Shore Voice News | Mary Brooke & Chelsea Kirkpatrick
There was a modest turnout for voting on the first of two advance-voting days in the District of Sooke by-election yesterday, Wednesday September 18.
A vote tally of 152 (out of about 10,300 eligible voters) shows a voting rate of about 1.4%. However, returning officer Carolyn Mushata says the voter turnout for advance voting is usually about 10% in total, and she expects a stronger turnout on the second of two advance polling dates which is Wednesday September 25.
The busiest voting times yesterday were 10 to 11 am and 3 to 7 pm. The average arrival of voters was about 20 per hour, during the peak voting period.
The voter range in the later evening included young adults, people dressed for business, and older folks.
There are six voting stations set up with the voting place.
The District of Sooke (as would all municipalities) uses the BC Voters List, as produced by Elections BC.
Eight candidates are still actively running for the one open seat on District of Sooke council (listed alphabetically): Herb Haldane, Dana Lajeunesse, Lorraine Pawlivsky-Love, Kevin Pearson, Mick Rhodes, Britt Santowski, Christina Schlattner, and Jeff Stewart.
Mushata says the ballot still has 10 names (all candidates who filed nomination papers by the deadline). That includes the names of two candidates — Jeff McArthur and Ken Robar — who say they are either ‘not actively campaigning’ or have withdrawn. But according to Mushata, neither have formally withdrawn.
Advance voting is being held in council chambers on the second floor of Sooke municipal hall at 2225 Otter Point Road (above the fire hall), again on Wednesday September 25, from 8 am to 8 pm.
The general by-election voting on Saturday September 28 will be at Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Road, from 8 am to 8 pm.