Islanders who will be away on federal election day, Jan. 23, or who just want to vote ahead of time, can vote at advance polls to be held this Friday, Saturday and Monday (Jan. 13, 14 and 16).
Advance polls will be open in Queen Charlotte and Masset on these days between noon and 8 pm.
Residents of the northern part of the islands (including Port Clements, Masset and Old Massett) can cast their advance ballot at the Howard Phillips Community Centre in Masset. Residents of the southern area (including Tlell, Skidegate, Sandspit and Queen Charlotte) can vote at the new Legion building on Second Avenue in Queen Charlotte.
Returning officer Bill Smith said voters should bring their voter information card with them to the poll, if they received one in the mail. People whose names are on the voters list do not need any special documents in order to vote, he said. People who are not on the voters list will need to register at the poll, and will need some identification. The best ID is one that includes a picture, address and signature, like a driver's licence.
People who live in remote areas or who find it difficult to get out of the house still have time to vote by mail, Mr. Smith said. If you want to cast your vote this way, you must call the returning office in Prince Rupert at 1-866-546-7618 as soon as possible and by Jan. 17 at the latest, he said.
Mr. Smith said there have been a few mail-in ballot requests in this area, including from isolated logging camps.
There are five candidates in this riding. In alphabetical order, they are: Phil Brienesse (Green Party), Nathan Cullen (NDP), Mike Scott (Conservative), Gordon Stamp-Vincent (Liberal) and Rod Taylor (Christian Heritage Party).