More than 10 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots in the first of five advance voting days in Lake Country as residents are being asked to approve a $2.6 million dollar loan to help Lake Country purchase the CN Rail corridor as part of an inter-jurisidctional team.
The advance poll Wednesday was held at Lake Country municipal hall and was the first advance poll for the Lake Country Okanagan Rail Corridor borrowing referendum. Advance polls were also held Thursday in Oyama and were scheduled for Friday in Carr's Landing, Monday in Okanagan Centre and Tuesday back at Lake Country municipal hall.
"Our first advanced voting day generated a lot of interest," said chief electoral officer Reyna Seabrook. “There was a pretty steady stream of voters all day and we had 11 per cent of all eligible voters turn out on the first day.”
There are five more voting days, including four days of advance voting and general voting day on Saturday, April 25. The results of all polls will be tallied by election officials once the polls close on general voting day Saturday, April 25.
“Based on feedback from the last general election we’ve added polls in each of the wards so no matter where you live, we hope we’ve captured the variety of voting days and locations across the district that will fit your schedule,” said Seabrook. “Eligible electors can vote at any poll, not just the one in their ward, so plan your time to come out and vote for this important community-shaping project.”
Voters need to bring two pieces of ID, at least one with a signature, to the polling station to prove residency and identity. A reminder to non-resident property electors that there is additional criteria required in order to register to vote, most notably, a signed consent form from a majority of registered owners if the property is jointly owned.
For a complete list of polling station addresses, to access consent forms or to find information about the project please visit lakecountry.bc.ca.