More than 3,000 East Gwillimbury residents aren't on voter list for 2018 election

There could be a lot more people voting in the 2018 election

Yorkregion.com
September 6, 2018
Simon Martin

There could be a lot more people voting in the 2018 election in East Gwillimbury.

Town clerk Fernando Lamanna said the town growth since the last election had added approximately 5,000 electors as of March 2018 and that number continues to grow.

There is a problem, however. A huge number of the town’s new residents aren’t on the official voter list. Lamanna estimated that 3,279 residents aren’t on the town's voter list. While they still can vote if they show up to polls on election day they will have to fill out a form that will add them to the town’s voter list. Residents can check if they are on the voter list by visiting voterlookup.ca.

New residents can also print out the form from the town’s website or go to East Gwillimbury Civic Centre if they want to be added to the voter list. Lamanna said the issue is that MPAC doesn’t collect information about citizenship.

“That process is simply filling out a one page form and submitting it, with proper ID, to an election official here at the town during business hours, or at any advance poll date or on election day."

Lamanna said the town will send a direct mailer to the occupants of the addresses that will identify the process for which they can be added to the list.

This election will be the first under the town’s new ward system, which will bring a few changes. The town is adding two more councillors to the table. The new system will split the town into three wards. Each ward will elect two councillors.

Ward 1 encompasses the vast majority of Holland Landing and run from Bathurst Street to 2nd Concession, and from the town’s southern boundary to Holborn Road. Ward 2 encompasses most of Queensville and Sharon, and runs from 2nd Concession to Highway 404, and from the town’s southern boundary to Holborn. Ward 3 consists of the rest of the municipality, featuring Mount Albert and the rural areas.

Lamanna said there are 8,052 eligible electors in Ward 1, 4,721 in Ward 2 and 6,664 in Ward 3. The problem is that doesn’t actually reflect the number of people that can vote Oct. 22. Lamanna said there is a huge number of Ward 2 residents that aren’t on the voter list. According to his numbers Ward 2 has 1,899 residents not on the list while Ward 1 has 606 and Ward 3 has 774. 

Candidates can struggle with not having an accurate voter list. Ward 2 candidate Tara Roy-DiClemente said there are 1,899 potential voters she doesn’t have information for. The total number on the list also affects the spending limits for candidates, she said. 

The official voting locations for each ward are as follows:

Ward 1: Holland Landing Community Centre, Park Avenue Public School and Victory Baptist Church.

Ward 2: Queensville United Church, East Gwillimbury Sports Complex and Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Ward 3: North Union Community Centre, Mount Albert Lions Hall and Ross Family Complex.