Voters who would like to cast their ballot early for the municipal election have a few options in Cambridge.
Municipal Election Day is Oct. 24, but online voting will be available on Friday, starting at 12:01 a.m.
“Typically, municipal elections don’t have great results. For municipal elections it’s at about a 20 to 30 per cent turnout,” said Cambridge city clerk, Daniel Manton.
“But a race seems to bring out the most voters so we might see something new this year. We have a few interesting races in the city.”
The City of Cambridge is also offered online voting in 2018.
“In 2018, we had 85,731 eligible electors in the city, and now we are closer to 96,000 now,” Manton said.
“We had a turnout of 32.24 per cent in 2018, and that was up from approximately 30 per cent in 2014.”
Of the 85,731 that were able to vote, 8,677 residents voted online.
“In 2014, we had internet voting as well, and we had 5,000 who voted online. Across Ontario, that’s typically what you see, is an increase of about 3,000 every four years,” Manton said.
Manton said online voting is a great option, especially for those who have difficulties making out to the polls.
Online voting will begin on Oct. 6th, right up until election day on Oct 24.
Advanced voting polls will also be available beginning Oct. 6 at specific locations.
Residents can vote at any of the curbside advanced locations on the scheduled dates; and at any of the locations in their ward on voting day.
Manton said advanced voting offers the convenience of voting from your vehicle.
"There will be five advanced voting locations happening in city, all by curbside drive-thru,” Manton said.
“People can just pull up in their vehicle, they receive their ballot, and mark it in their car. It runs through the tabulator, and then they are on their way.”
Cambridge advanced locations include:
- Forward Baptist Church, 55 Franklin Blvd. Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Preston Auditorium Arena, 1458 Hamilton Street, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 11 and 12, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Hespeler Arena, 640 Ellis Road, Saturday, October 15, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Search for your Voting Location using your Address.
On Oct. 24, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., residents can find their voting location here on election day.
Each location selected has accessible entrances and facilities for residents living with a disability.
“If there is a voter who can not leave their home, and does not have internet access, we ask that they call the clerk’s office and we’ll make arrangements for them to vote at home and help them through the process,” Manton said.
To arrange for at-home voting on election day, please contact [email protected].
On Election Day, Cambridge City Hall will be a fully accessible voting location and will offer accessible voting devices for ballot marking which meets full accessibility standards.
For more information and to see who is running for office in the municipal election, visit CambridgeToday's municipal election coverage here.
