Area residents should have started receiving their voter-information cards in the mail last week regarding the upcoming Federal General Election, on Monday, May 2.
The card will contain information on where and when residents vote on election day and at advance polls.
Elections Canada is reminding residents who don’t receive a card to check with the local Elections Canada office or call its toll-free number at 1-800-463-6868.
While the election will be held on May 2, there are a couple of ways to beat the crowds on general-election day.
There will be advance-voting opportunities on Friday, April 22, Saturday April 23, and Monday, April 25 from noon to 8 p.m.
Residents can also vote now by special ballot, which is especially useful for students and residents who may be away on voting day.
With a special ballot, a resident can vote by mail or in person at the office of any returning officer.
However, in the case of the special ballot, the voter must know the name of the candidate they are choosing because Elections Canada has not yet created candidate-ballot forms.
Completed special-ballot application forms, along with required documentation, must be received at Elections Canada by 6 p.m. on April 26.
Completed special ballots must be received at Elections Canada by May 2.
For voting on election day Barriere area residents will be able to vote at the Barriere Lions Hall, 350 Borthwick Avenue, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. The hall will also be the polling station site for advanced voting.
Some 30,000 B.C. residents voted by way of special ballot in the 2008 federal election.
Though candidates in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding have been campaigning for weeks, all five became official candidates on Monday, April 11, when registration closed.
Cathy McLeod (Conservative), Michael Crawford (NDP), Donovan Cavers (Green), Murray Todd (Liberal) and Chris Kempling (Christian Heritage) are all registered as candidates.
All five candidates will be attending the Barriere All Candidates Forum this Wednesday, Apr. 20, at the Ridge, 7 p.m. The forum is sponsored by the North Thompson Star/Journal.