It’s Election Day in Timmins and across Ontario today.

Municipalities are casting their votes for new City Councillors and Mayors across the province, and the election is in full swing here in Timmins.

For some residents, however, it’s not so easy to cast their ballot because they don’t have transportation and any means to get to a polling station.

Cue Leena MacDonald’s Ride to Vote Clinic. This voting clinic is being run by volunteers today who will go to your home, pick you up, make sure you have the proper voting information and ID, and take you to your polling station.

MacDonald says this is all about making sure every resident has the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

“Basically, we just want to facilitate anybody who needs a ride to vote,” MacDonald said, “Anybody who needs childcare so they can get out and vote. And just make sure everybody gets the opportunity to exercise their right.”

Lots of parents might have a hard time making it out today with the kids because today is a P.D. Day. If parents need a place to bring their kids while they go out and vote, they can bring them to the Schumacher Lion’s Den at the McIntyre Arena. In the basement there will be activities, crafts and refreshments. There will be high school kids running events there for kids.

The Ride to Vote clinic is open today from 10AM to 7PM. Polls open today at 10AM.

Leena MacDonald says this is the first time she’s organized this Ride to Vote service.

“People were asking for rides and how they get there,” MacDonald said, “there was just a lot of confusion in general. I attend a lot of community events and I had a lot of people who were asking questions. You know, you stop by the post office and people were like, “well I can’t go over to vote, I can’t get into the building.” Well, we’ll try and get you a ride.”

MacDonald isn’t sure how many people she’ll get today, but she’s ready for anything.

“You know what,” she said, “it could be two, it could be two hundred. As many as we can, we will.”

If anyone wants to use the Ride to Vote service, they can go to the Facebook event page, Ride to Vote 2018 Timmins, and message the group. They can also call Leena MacDonald at 705-365-0927. Or they can email ridetovotetimmins@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Local News