Shop and vote: Hundreds mark ballots while at mall
Before hitting the shops at Devonshire Mall Saturday morning, Elsie Calumpang cast her ballot. The Ward 9 resident was one of 1,525 Windsorites to vote in the Thanksgiving weekend municipal advance poll — the first of this election — set up in front of the entrance to the former Sears store. “It’s very convenient,” said Calumpang, who had never participated in an advance poll before. “I didn’t even bring my voter card, but they said I can still go in and vote, so why not?” Calumpang said she wasn’t surprised to see so many people joining the fast-moving line next to tall, black privacy curtains. “You shop and vote,” she said. “Then you can go home and not worry you might forget to vote on election day.”
The first day of advance polls is often very busy, especially when it’s held at the mall, said Chuck Scarpelli, the city’s manager of records and elections.
“It’s very popular because a lot of people are coming to the mall to shop, and when they realize we’re open for business, they come in and vote,” he said.
In the last municipal elections in 2014, a similar number — 1,550 people — voted early at Devonshire Mall.
In total, about 6,800 people voted in the advance polls that year.
“You don’t have to have a reason to vote in advance,” Scarpelli added. “It doesn’t matter whether you live in Riverside or South Windsor, you just come in and vote.” Electronic poll books operated by six deputy returning officers make processing voters quick and simple, he said. Despite the popularity of advance polls, people don’t have to wait long.
“I’m really pleased with voter turnout,” said Scarpelli. “We’ve had a lot of comments from voters who have exited the poll that they really like the way it was set up. It was a pleasant experience, and they were really glad they came.” Devon Fraser, 19, a Ward 5 resident, said she didn’t receive a voting card in the mail, so she found out about the advance poll from her father, Sean. “I think we should try and get more young voters interested in knowing about elections, and being more aware of who the candidates are and what their views are,” said Fraser. “I think a lot of young people aren’t aware there are advance polls.” Samantha Hepburn, 18, voted for the first time at the mall on Saturday. Her parents encouraged her to do it early. “Me and my friends are excited to vote now that we’re 18, but voting is something that’s not really advertised to young people as well as it could be,” said Hepburn. “With all the information so accessible, especially online, it really only took a few minutes to really look at all the candidates and decide who I wanted to choose.”
The other four Windsor advance polls (each runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) are as follows: Tuesday, Capri Pizzeria Recreation
■ Complex (formerly South Windsor Arena), 2555 Pulford St. Wednesday, downtown at the
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Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre, lower atrium, 401 Pitt St. West. Thursday, Central Park Athletics,
■ second-floor banquet room, 3400 Grand Marais Rd. E. Saturday, the WFCU Centre, ■
Collavino Hall, 8787 McHugh St. Most people will vote on election day, Oct. 22, at one of the numerous polling stations specified on voter cards. Bring voter card and valid ID.