(Elections Ontario photo)
Voters across Ontario are heading to the polls today, however, a number of the riding’s residents have already cast their ballots.
Some 7.5 percent of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke’s eligible voters cast ballots at advance polls, says the riding’s returning officer Brennan Trainor.
Trainor, who is new to the role this election, having taken over for long-time returning officer Louis MacDonald, tells myFM how that compares to the previous provincial election.
As far as why more voters cast ballots at advance polls this time around, it’s possible it indicates increased local interest, but Trainor said other factors may have played a part as well.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called this election a year and a half before it was scheduled, meaning much less time for Elections Ontario to plan and lay out the process.
However, said Trainor, workers were able to pull everything together and are hoping for a smooth election today (Thursday).
Six candidates are on the ballot in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke: NDP Marshall Buchanan; PC Billy Denault; New Blue Party Mark Dickson; Liberal Oliver Jacob; Ontario Party Kevin Holm; and Green Party Anna Maria Dolan.
In the last provincial election in 2022, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke had a 46.38 cent voter turnout, slightly higher than the provincial average of 44 per cent.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)