As residents across the county prepare for Monday’s municipal elections, it seems municipalities have their own approach to dealing with the results.
Centre Wellington
In Centre Wellington, counting mail-in ballots will begin on Oct. 27 at around 12:30pm.
Clerk Kerri O’Kane noted both scrutineers and candidates are invited to observe the setup. After checking the tabulator machinery, the counting begins at 1pm.
In past elections, up to 10,000 ballots have been processed, and the early startup allows the results to be available sooner, O’Kane said.
However, a traditional drop-in poll is still available at the township office until 8pm. Those ballots will need to be transported to the community centre for processing.
O’Kane noted that even though there was an Oct. 18 deadline for the mail-in ballot, those ballots can still be dropped off to a ballot box at the municipal building.
She said to accommodate residents, the township office will be open for extended hours this week, including Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
On election night, candidates and members of the public are welcome in Veterans Hall at the municipal building before 8pm. The council chamber will then open to the public once the ballot processing is complete.
Erin
In Erin the countdown is on, signs are out and campaigning is ramping up. For residents who have not received voter kits, they can be issued at the town office as long as proper identification is provided.
Envelopes can still be dropped off at the town office during office hours or through the mail slot at the front entrance after hours.
Extended office hours for election business only are Oct. 23 until 8pm and Oct. 25 from 10am to 2pm.
Once the last ballot box has been processed after 8pm (separating secrecy envelopes from the declaration forms) the council chamber will be opened for people to gather.
The unofficial results will be announced there once the tallying has been completed in the count centre (downstairs). The results will be available online once township officials have certified them (within one or two days).
Guelph-Eramosa
A reception will be held at the council chamber in Brucedale at 8:30pm with election results announced soon thereafter.
The results will also be emailed to area media outlets.
Mapleton
Election results for Mapleton Township will be posted at the PMD arena. Doors will open at 7:30pm.
Township staff will be handing out copies of the results, which will also be emailed to area media outlets.
Minto
The Town of Minto administration centre will be open at 7:30pm on Oct. 27 to allow candidates and local residents to gather as the results of the municipal election come in.
CAO Bill White said the town will be live streaming CTV election coverage and posting Minto results. Light snacks will be provided.
“There are no formal proceedings, just a chance to monitor results,” said White.
The Harriston Legion has been a traditional gathering spot for candidates and voters on past election nights and manager Flo Van Meer said the branch will be staying open past its usual Monday night closing time of 9pm in order to accommodate election watchers.
Puslinch
In Puslinch results from the advance poll will be announced in the council chambers at the township office after 8pm on election night.
An election bulletin from the township noted candidates or their scrutineer may observe this process but must be in the council chamber prior to 8pm.
The results from the election day polls will be displayed in the Alf Hales Room at the Puslinch Community Centre and on the township website at www.puslinch.ca after the close of polls as they become available.
Wellington North
Tabulators will be brought to the council chamber in Kenilworth at approximately 8:30pm, with unofficial results expected by 9pm.
Results will be posted on the township website.
Advertiser live coverage
For those unable to receive election results in person, the Advertiser will be updating results from across the county as they happen on election night on the paper’s Twitter account: @WellyAdvertiser.
Not on Twitter? No problem – the Advertiser’s Twitter feed is accessible on the right hand side of the home page at www.wellingtonadvertiser.com.
The Advertiser will also update results and stories the day after the election.
AMO elections webpage
The Association Municipalities also intends to have a municipal election results webpage with results from across Ontario – at www.amo.on.ca.
