A pair of advance polls held at Airdrie City Hall on Oct. 5 and Oct. 10 indicated a decrease in voter turnout from the 2010 election.
Three years ago, the City held a pair of advance polls, which garnered a total of 299 voters. This year in the two polls combined, just 171 voters turned out.
In fact, the second of the two advance polls in 2010 saw more residents vote than in both advance polls combined this year.
Advance polls were held on a Saturday and Wednesday in 2010, with the Wednesday poll bringing in 232 votes.
This yearís second advance poll was on Thursday Oct. 10 and collected just 116 votes.
Manager of Legislative Services Sharon Pollyck says the decrease could reflect a lower voter turn out for the election on Oct. 21, when compared with 2010.
ìTurn out at the advance polls is usually an indicator of what pattern weíll see in our voter turnout on election day,î said Pollyck.
In 2010, voter turnout was just over 8,500 people, accounting for 33 per cent of eligible voters.
The decreased numbers will not dictate how the City will staff the election and Pollyck says they will still be fully staffed, at close to 45 people at three polling stations located at Genesis Place, Rocky View Schools building and the Town and Country Centre.
ìLast election, we were adequately staffed at Genesis Place and the Town and Country Centre but not at the Rocky View Schools building,î said Pollyck. ìWeíre going to keep our staffing numbers up so that we can ensure we are able to get all voters through.î
Voting stations open at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 and close at 8 p.m.
Visit www.airdrie.ca to see which station you should vote at.
