Advance vote numbers stay high as City adds drive-thru option for election day

By City of Lethbridge on October 13, 2021.

Herald file photo by Al Beeber - Vehicles line up at Exhibition Park last week as voters arrived to cast their ballot at a drive-thru municipal election advance poll.

After just five of eight days of advance voting for the 2021 municipal election, the numbers have already surpassed the total advance vote total from 2017.
This past weekend, 3,907 voters cast their ballot using the new drive-thru voting station at Exhibition Park – almost equivalent to the entire total of advance voters in 2017, which was 3,912. On Friday, 1,422 residents cast their ballot – a record number in one day of advance voting. On Saturday, 1,273 people voted and on Sunday an additional 1,212 voters used the drive-through option.
As 1,255 people voted October 1-2 at city hall, 5,162 Lethbridge residents have used the 2021 advance voting options to date.
There are three more advance vote opportunities which will occur from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. October 14, 15 and 16 at the ATB Centre.
As a result of the popularity, the drive-thru voting option at Exhibition Park will be offered on Election Day, October 18. Returning Officer Bonnie Hilford says hearing from the voters on this new initiative was valuable as the Elections Lethbridge team appreciates the positive praise, as well as feedback on where it could improve.
The drive-thru voting station, which allows individuals to vote without leaving their vehicle, is a new initiative designed as an extra precaution in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Signs are placed directing voters to the entrance near Bully’s (near the southwest corner of Exhibition Park). Voters drive to the eligibility booth, followed by a ballot booth, a deciding zone and a ballot turn-in area. Those on bicycles are also permitted and can lineup as a vehicle.
Each mayor, councillor and school board trustee candidate was also provided with the opportunity – through a local third-party agency – to record a two-minute information video. The videos can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel and have already had more than 100,000 views overall.
On election day Monday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., eligible voters can vote at any of the 14 voting stations throughout the City. Rather than having dedicated neighbourhood voting stations, as in previous elections or with the federal election, voters will be able to pick the station that works for them. A map of election day voting locations is here.
At the voting stations, voters must complete an elector register form stating they are eligible to vote. You will put your name, address, choice of public or separate school trustee ballot - and sign the form. This will take approximately two minutes to complete. Should you choose, to save a step at the voting station, residents may download the form in advance and turn in a hard copy at the voting station.
All public health orders, as set out by the provincial government, will be followed. Check Lethbridge/ca/election for updates prior to voting.
For more information, please visit the City’s election website at Lethbridge/ca/election.