The writ has officially dropped to send Manitobans to the polls.
Premier Heather Stefanson visited Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville, last Tuesday to kick off Manitoba’s 43rd provincial general election with polling day set for, Oct. 3.
As of press time there are two registered candidates in the Dauphin electoral district. Gord Wood is looking to retain the seat for the Progressive Conservative Party, while Ron Kostyshyn is hoping to win the constituency back for the New Democratic Party.
Advance voting runs for eight days, from Sept. 23 to 30.
To be eligible to vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day and have lived in the district for at least six months immediately before election day.
Voters will receive a voter information card in the mail. This card confirms you are registered to vote and when and where to vote on election day and the advance voting period.
Voters who have not received their cards or received a card with incorrect information can visit www.electionsmanitoba.ca or contact their local election office to register or update their information before Sept. 14. Voting is faster and easier when registered before the election, but you can still register at the poll when you vote.
During all eight days of advance voting, Manitobans can vote at any advance poll in the province.
Advance polling in the Dauphin constituency at the Local Election Office in Dauphin at 1550 Main St S, and at Dauphin Market Place Mall at 1450 Main Street South every day throughout the advance voting period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the exception of Sunday, Sept. 24, when voting can take place from noon to 6 p.m.
Advance voting will also be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 27 only at:
• Winnipegosis Elks Lodge at 337 3rd St., Winnipegosis.
• Waterhen Council Office at 104 North Mallard Rd., Waterhen.
• Rorketon Community Hall at 800 1st St. S., Rorketon.
• Sifton Community Centre at 115 2nd Ave., Sifton.
• Richardson Pioneer Community Hall at 201 Main St. N, Gilbert Plains.
• Grandview Kinsmen Hall at 435 Burrows St., Grandview.
• Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation Band Hall on Hwy. 5, Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation.
• Ste. Rose du Lac Curling Club at 555 Maillard St., Ste. Rose du Lac.
• Ebb and Flow First Nation Community Complex at 517 Arena Ave., Ebb and Flow.
• Royal Canadian Legion McCreary Branch at 431 1st. Ave., McCreary.
• Alonsa Community Centre at 10 PTH 50, Alonsa.
On election day, you can vote at any polling place in your electoral division.
In the Dauphin constituency that includes:
• Winnipegosis Elks Lodge at 337 3rd St., Winnipegosis.
• Skownan Hall at 1050 Skownan Rd., Skownan.
• Waterhen Council Office at 104 North Mallard Rd., Waterhen.
• Maurice Morrisseau Memorial Hall at 3207 Lakeshore Rd., Crane River.
• Rorketon Community Hall at 800 1st St. S., Rorketon.
• Fork River Community Hall at 105 1st Ave. W, Fork River.
• Sifton Community Centre, Sifton.
• Richardson Pioneer Community Hall at 201 Main St. N, Gilbert Plains.
• Grandview Kinsmen Hall at 435 Burrows St., Grandview.
• Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation Band Hall on Hwy. 5, Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation.
• Valley River Community Centre at 5 Hassard St., Valley River.
• Dauphin Friendship Centre at 210 1st Ave. NE., Dauphin.
• Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium at 304 Whitemore Ave. E., Dauphin.
• Happy Haven Home at 116 Whitemore Ave. W., Dauphin.
• Ochre River Community Hall at 401 Mann St., Ochre River.
• Ste. Rose du Lac Curling Club at 555 Maillard St., Ste. Rose du Lac.
• Westlake Community Centre at 16 Eddystone Dr., Eddystone.
• Ebb and Flow First Nation Community Complex at 517 Arena Ave., Ebb and Flow.
• Kinosota Community Centre on Kinosota Front Rd., Kinosota.
• Les Nouveaux Horizons Centre at 112 Fosbery St., Laurier.
• Royal Canadian Legion McCreary Branch at 431 1st. Ave., McCreary.
• Alonsa Community Centre at 10 PTH 50, Alonsa.
• Amaranth Memorial Hall at 12 PTH 50, Amaranth.
All polls will be open from 8 a.m. on election day.
All voters require ID to vote, either one piece of government-issued photo ID or two other pieces. There are many options. A complete list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections Manitoba website.
Voters are encouraged to bring their voter information card, which can be used as one piece of ID.
This election will see new technology at the polls, resulting in reduced wait times for voters and faster results reporting. This new technology includes:
• Laptops with secure access to the voters list;
• Scanners to scan voter information cards and quickly find voters on the voters list;
• Printers for printing ballots on demand in place of write-in ballots for advance voting; and
• Vote counting machines to scan and accurately record ballots and provide results at the close of polls.
It is expected that approximately 85 per cent of election day voters and 95 per cent of advance voters will see these tools in use in the 2023 general election.
