Calgary - Municipal Elections Vote Today - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Slava · 10-15-2007, 03:04 PM

I agree, they should make it more accessible. Why are the polls not open until 10am? They should be open at least 12 hours, but maybe even 6am-8pm. Then people could vote on the way to work/school.

worth · 10-15-2007, 03:09 PM

Need a lot of volunteers though. If their open 12-14 hours they'd probably need 2 shifts. Right now, 10-8 is probably pushing 1 shift.

Slava · 10-15-2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worth

Need a lot of volunteers though. If their open 12-14 hours they'd probably need 2 shifts. Right now, 10-8 is probably pushing 1 shift.

Yeah, this is true...but its only one day every few years. Plus, its a paying job!

fredr123 · 10-15-2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worth

Need a lot of volunteers though. If their open 12-14 hours they'd probably need 2 shifts. Right now, 10-8 is probably pushing 1 shift.

Maybe reduce the number of voting stations per ward and let people vote at any station they want.

Burninator · 10-15-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

You can get the ballot for each category...I just voted and if you don't want the trustee or alderman you could refuse them.

What do you mean "refuse them"? Don't check a box?

jolinar of malkshor · 10-15-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worth

Need a lot of volunteers though. If their open 12-14 hours they'd probably need 2 shifts. Right now, 10-8 is probably pushing 1 shift.

If they had it all done on computer network it could reduce the amount of volunteers needed.

worth · 10-15-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

If they had it all done on computer network it could reduce the amount of volunteers needed.

I don't think I would vote in an election that didn't have a paper trail of my vote. Look at the massive problems voting machines have caused in the states.

jolinar of malkshor · 10-15-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worth

I don't think I would vote in an election that didn't have a paper trail of my vote. Look at the massive problems voting machines have caused in the states.

I am not saying that it should be cast electronically, although I think we should proceed that way. What I am saying is have everyones name in a database and have it connected to a network throught the province/country and that wasy you could vote anywhere you want.

urban1 · 10-15-2007, 03:55 PM

There were advance polls from Oct 4 to Oct 10 where you could have voted at numerour locations around town including the municpal building downtown.

If you cant figure out a way to get to a polling station then Id question your ability to make a decision on your vote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

Where did you end up having to go?

If people were serious about increasing voter turnout, they should take steps to make voting easier. How many people work down town but live in a different ward? Why can't I vote during my lunch hour or coffee breaK?

Instead, I have to hustle my butt home after work and try to get to the nearest polling station before closing. Like Jolinar, I probably would have went to the wrong one too...

jolinar of malkshor · 10-15-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urban1

There were advance polls from Oct 4 to Oct 10 where you could have voted at numerour locations around town including the municpal building downtown.

If you cant figure out a way to get to a polling station then Id question your ability to make a decision on your vote.

Some people don't have days on end to go around and vote like you do. Some people have what we call "lives"

fredr123 · 10-15-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urban1

There were advance polls from Oct 4 to Oct 10 where you could have voted at numerour locations around town including the municpal building downtown.

If you cant figure out a way to get to a polling station then Id question your ability to make a decision on your vote.

Your first paragraph made a good point. Advance polling stations are a good idea. I thought there were conditions on who could vote at those. Turns out I was wrong. Good to know for next time.

urban1 · 10-15-2007, 04:43 PM

It takes you days on end to vote?

My point is that it is in fact quite easy to find a convenient time and location to vote. A quick internet search or simply going to the City of Calgary website would take less than a few minutes and allow you to find a way to vote. There was advance polling locations all around town so most people with even the busiest "lives" would be able to find somewhere convenient.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Some people don't have days on end to go around and vote like you do. Some people have what we call "lives"

jolinar of malkshor · 10-15-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urban1

It takes you days on end to vote?

My point is that it is in fact quite easy to find a convenient time and location to vote. A quick internet search or simply going to the City of Calgary website would take less than a few minutes and allow you to find a way to vote. There was advance polling locations all around town so most people with even the busiest "lives" would be able to find somewhere convenient.

You have a good point...but it was lost in your arrogance.

One point also is that you can go vote at any advanced polling station yet on election day you MUST vote in your voting area. Very ######ed.

4X4 · 10-15-2007, 05:37 PM

Why is it ######ed to have to vote in your polling area? You think that every polling area should have 14 boxes for each alderman and for each trustee? Or should the volunteers be sorting each box like a deck of cards?

I don't get the whole 'it was a pain in the ass to vote' mentality. If it was important to you, you'd find a way to do it. It's once every 3 years.

ken0042 · 10-15-2007, 06:11 PM

A couple of things I found out the hard way today:

- The list of voting stations is not entirely correct. They list voting stations, but you have to go to your specified one. Unfortunately the city's website doesn't make that easy to find.

- The people working the voting stations doesn't like you actually flipping a coin when they ask if you are voting for public or Catholic school trustee.

Slava · 10-15-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

What do you mean "refuse them"? Don't check a box?

Well when I voted they asked me if I wanted the ballot for the trustees. I said yes, and she said something like "well, a lot of people don't want all of the ballots". (They are separate for Mayor, Alderman and Trustees).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

- The people working the voting stations doesn't like you actually flipping a coin when they ask if you are voting for public or Catholic school trustee.

That is hilarious!!

fredr123 · 10-15-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Why is it ######ed to have to vote in your polling area? You think that every polling area should have 14 boxes for each alderman and for each trustee? Or should the volunteers be sorting each box like a deck of cards?

I don't get the whole 'it was a pain in the ass to vote' mentality. If it was important to you, you'd find a way to do it. It's once every 3 years.

I wouldn't use the word "######ed" but in this day and age it seems a little behind the times to keep voter registrations in recipe boxes. If they were stored securely online then it may be possible to vote at any polling station in the city.

Voting today wasn't a pain in the ass but it could have been easier. My original point was voter turnout was an issue for some. One way to address that problem was to make it even easier to vote: polling stations downtown available for anyone.

And for those keeping track at home, I found myself able to find a polling station and properly place a check mark beside my candidates of choice. Success!

PowerPlayoffs06 · 10-15-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

And for those keeping track at home, I found myself able to find a polling station and properly place a check mark beside my candidates of choice. Success!

A check mark? It says right at the top of the ballot in bolded words to mark an X beside your vote.

Fail!

I'm just bein' silly. I'm glad you at least went out and voted.

Dion · 10-15-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Nope, just show up with ID. You can also vote anywhere in your ward that you want.

Edit: here's the ward map link

Here in High River no ID was required today when we voted today for our mayor, school board trustees and council. Thought that was odd

ken0042 · 10-15-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

- The people working the voting stations doesn't like you actually flipping a coin when they ask if you are voting for public or Catholic school trustee.

And here's the even funnier part of this. When asked where I was voting, I asked if anybody was in by acclimation. They said no. So I flipped the coin, and it came up Catholic. They then told me that one of the candidates had dropped out, so I thought to myself "sweet- that's how I'm going to spoil my ballot; vote for her." Then I get into the both, open the ballot, and there's only two names.

So, if two people run, and one drops out, doesn't the other win by acclimation?