TANNARA YELLAND
Associate News Editor
For the first time, advance voting will be open on campus for a civic election.
From Oct. 19 to 23 polls will be open in Place Riel to students regardless of which wards they live in. Chris Stoicheff, as the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union’s vice-president external, began work on the project in “about June or July,” he said.
Place Riel was chosen as the site for the polls because it is a high-traffic area, which Stoicheff hopes will bring more voters out.
“We had to find the appropriate space for it,” Stoicheff said, “a spot that was accessible to students. It could have been anywhere on campus but there’s a lot of traffic through Place Riel, so hopefully students will see the polls.”
Stoicheff acknowledged that civic elections are often forgotten by voters or dismissed as irrelevant but said he feels people aren’t aware of the many ways in which the municipal government plays an important role in their day-to-day lives.
“I think it’s important (to vote) because there are many, many things the municipal government does that affect our daily lives in terms of urban growth and city planning as well as taxes.”
Later, Stoicheff added that students should make their voices heard in an effort to impact things like efficient transit, housing affordability and the need for more bike paths.
“It’s important that we have a voice in the development of our city in the next five to 10 years because we’re going to be graduating and many of us will be living here after that.”
-Chris Stoicheff
USSU VP External
Despite these important aspects of city governance, many students say they will not be voting in the election, often claiming to be uninformed about the work the municipal government does.
Lisa Thalheimer, a second-year English student, says she won’t be voting between Oct. 19 and 23.
“First of all, I don’t know what a civic election is. And I know nothing about who the candidates are, about what they stand for.”
While many students remain unconvinced about the importance of voting in civic elections, Stoicheff made the process of voting on campus as easy as possible for those who will take part in the process.
Stoicheff said it can be hard to get word out about advance polling because often students don’t understand what is meant by that or if they can vote on campus if they live in a different area of the city.
Regardless of where students live they can vote on campus provided they have identification and proof of residence. This can take the form of I.D. or a bill mailed to one’s residence.
Another problem many students worry about is whether they are still eligible to vote if they moved out of the city for the summer. Stoicheff explained that this does not prohibit a student from voting.
“As long as you’ve been in the province for six months, you’re a Canadian citizen and you’ve been in the municipality for three months (of the last six), you can vote. You just need to declare that you live in that riding.”
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Polls are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Oct. 19 to 23 in Place Riel. You can vote if you have lived in Saskatoon for three of the last six months.
You can vote on campus no matter which ward you live in.