Saint John priority neighbourhoods focus of Elections NB campaign

Elections NB is trying to boost voter turnout in Saint John's five priority neighbourhoods by opening polling stations in their midst for the upcoming municipal elections.

"We're trying to take the vote to where the individuals are, rather than bring them to us," said Richard Thorne, returning officer for the municipal district of Saint John, Grand Bay-Westfield.

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Starting Tuesday, special additional polls will be open for three-hour periods for residents living in the South End, Lower West Side, Old North End, Crescent Valley and Waterloo Village.

"It's their territory," said Thorne. "They're not looking at 10to 15 faces that they don't know in a polling location where they might feel intimidated."

It's a variation on an effort that started four years ago, when Elections NB arranged for voters in these neighbourhoods to get onto city transit buses to travel to the returning office on Rothesay Avenue.

"That was an interesting exercise but perhaps awkward," said Thorne, describing the new arrangement as more cost-effective and more low-key.

The five special locations were chosen in collaboration with the Human Development Council and Juanita Black, co-ordinator of Around the Block, the bi-weekly newspaper that serves the five priority neighbourhoods.

"I would have liked [the polls to be open] the whole day," said Black. "But this is a start. It's better than nothing."

Each location was chosen for its walkabilityand other criteria, including wheelchair accessibility and a room for privacy to vote.

For example, the Crescent Valley Resource Centre will be open to voters Wednesday afternoon from 12:30 until 3:30.

Executive Director Anne Driscoll welcomed the idea, describing it as innovative.

"Many residents in our neighbourhood don't have access to transportation or the transportation services that they're using aren't as convenient as we'd like them to be," she said.

"So having easy access to voting is something we're happy to be able to provide. We want them to cast their ballot. We want them to have their voice heard."

Robustturnoutinadvancepolls

According to communications director Paul Harpelle, 24,523 votes were cast in the first day of advance voting on Sunday.

In the last municipal election in 2012, a total of 39,902 votes were cast over both days of advance polling.

"We like to get in before the crowd," said Elaine Kelly after casting her ballot Monday morning, the second day of advance polling, at St. Mark's United Church in west Saint John.

David Cossaboon said he likes to voteearly just in case something comes up on election day, May 9. "Some candidates I wanted to make sure did not get in," he said.

Special additional polls:

• Tuesday, May 3, 9 a.m.- noon: Saint John Boys and Girls Club, 1 Paul Harris Street
• Tuesday, May 3, 12:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.: PULSE Building, 251 Wentworth Street
• Wednesday, May 4, 9a.m. - noon: Nick Nicolle Community Centre, 85 Durham Street.
• Wednesday, May 4, 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Crescent Valley ResourceCentre, 130 MacLaren Blvd.
• Thursday, May 5, 9 a.m. - noon: Westside PACT building, 200 Ludlow Street