Advance polling continues throughout Waterloo Region and beyond ahead of the municipal election on Oct. 26, with many voters taking advantage of the opportunity to cast their ballot early. In the City of Waterloo, advance voting started on Oct. 10. There were long lines at the Albert McCormick Community Centre when the doors opened at 2 p.m. on Friday. The queue even wrapped around the building. “We always have a line up before polls open with people just hoping to get in and out before the lineup gets longer,” said Julie Finley, city clerk with the City of Waterloo. The city said 145 voters were processed within the first hour. “It’s ridiculous, honestly,” voter Mirka Janousek was there just after 2 p.m. “I just got here a few minutes ago. I didn’t expect [there] to be a million people in line.” The city suggests people wanting to avoid long lines should come later in the day. After the initial rush, wait times were reportedly less than 30 minutes. “I have my 93-year-old father here with me. They don’t have priority lines for seniors or those with walkers. And now the line is like a mile long,” she said. Voting continues until 8 p.m. Waterloo officials stressed the importance of casting your ballot for this upcoming election. “Municipal government is the closest to the people and to what you see every day when you turn your taps on, if you’re traveling on transit or down a road,” Finley said. There was also an enthusiastic response in the City of Cambridge. “Our advanced polling locations have been well attended, with higher turnout that we had seen by this point in the 2022 election,” Cambridge City Clerk Jennifer Shaw said in a statement to CTV News. She did, however, note that when they considered all advance voting methods, including online and specialized options, there were fewer people casting a ballot ahead of time compared to 2022. In the City of Kitchener, the first drive-thru voting location opened at the Sunrise Shopping Centre on Friday. That option was available from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. “Allowing electors to cast their ballots, safely from the comfort of their own vehicle,” said Amanda Fusco, director of legislated services and Kitchener city clerk. In the first four hours on Friday, the city said there were about 200 drive-thru votes. “We really want voting to be as accessible and convenient as possible, really hoping that that means the voters will turn out. Going to where voters are is also a big key this year,” Fusco said. If it goes well this year, the city said they will bring back drive-thru voting in 2030. Advance voting across the region Many municipalities are also hosting advance voting opportunities. Voters in Cambridge can go to the Hespeler Memorial Arena on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. In Kitchener, advance voting locations were open at Kitchener City Hall and Fairview Park Mall on Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. On Saturday, they were held at Fairview Park Mall from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and the Kitchener Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kitchener’s second drive-thru voting day at the Sunrise Shopping Centre is also Saturday. That option will be available from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. In North Dumfries, advance polling locations will be available between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Oct. 21 and Oct. 24. Waterloo’s advance voting days are Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex and Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at RIM Park. Woolwich is hosting advance voting stations on Oct. 17 at the Woolwich Memorial Centre and Breslau Community Centre. The next day, ballots can be cast at the Woolwich Memorial Centre and St. Jacobs Fire Hall. On both days, the polls will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Other ways to vote before election day People in Cambridge can cast their ballots online anytime before Oct. 26. A step-by-step guide is available. Online voting is also available in North Dumfries, Wellesley and Woolwich. All three municipalities will be accepting votes through the online portal right up until the polls close at 8 p.m. on election day. Wellesley also offers a phone-in option.
