Elections Canada has expanded its on-campus voting from 39 post-secondary institutions in 2015 to 119 this election.
Lambton College is currently offering special ballot voting.
Students, employees, and members of the community can cast ballots in advance Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. in the Student Administrative Council boardroom, B1-203.
Council General Manager James Grant said the polling, which began Monday, is a great way to get young people to vote.
"Obviously we have a diverse student body and we have a lot of students that live outside Sarnia-Lambton, let alone in the city, so being able to offer them the chance to vote and be involved politically with making decisions that could affect them, it's definitely a great addition to have on campus this year," said Grant. "The students have been in to talk and say how nice it's been. They've made it really easy and Elections Canada has been great to deal with, and just to have the ability for these students to easily do their job in a voting booth that's on campus, it's definitely something that's hitting home with the students."
Grant said members of the public are encouraged to vote a little later in the afternoon after classes have wrapped up for the day.
"I know I was here Monday night and some individuals walked in from the community and were able to do it as well. I spoke with them and they said once about 6:30 p.m. hit it really cleared up and there wasn't as many lines because classes were ending and such."
Special ballot voting is different than voting on election day or at typical advanced polls. Constituents don't have a list of candidates to choose from. There is a blank space to write the name of their candidate of choice.
There are four days of regular advance polling set for the upcoming long Thanksgiving weekend. Voters can cast ballots at their assigned polling station from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Thanksgiving Monday. Check your voter information card or Elections Canada's online voter information service to find your advance polling stations.
Polls are open election day Monday, October 21 from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.
(From left to right) Council General Manager James Grant, Lambton College Student Paul, and Esports Program Coordinator Tony Frangis. October 9, 2019. (Photo by James Grant)