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Heavy turnout at advance poll in Chilliwack

Some voters waited as long as two hours, some claimed they were turned away
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People lined up for advance voting Wednesday in Chilliwack outside City Hall and into the parking lot. (Submitted)

Chilliwack voters waited as long a two hours Wednesday to cast ballots in the advanced poll for Saturday’s municipal election.

City Hall was kept open until 10 p.m. to accommodate the high turnout of voters when the polls officially closed at 8 p.m.

Chief election officer Carol Friesen said the last ballot was cast at 9:22 p.m.

Under the election rules, residents who are already in line when the voting period ends must be allowed to vote, but some members of the public report that they were turned away before 8 p.m.

Wednesday was the second advanced voting opportunity in the run-up to election day on Saturday, Oct. 20. The other opportunity, also at City Hall, was last Wednesday.

Not everyone was happy with the long wait.

“Tried in the morning and was estimated to be over an hour in lineup,” Kerry MacDonald wrote to The Progress. “Went back later in early in afternoon and found lineup was even longer.”

MacDonald is calling for a review of the process and suggested a larger venue was needed.

On Saturday there will eight locations where voters can cast their ballot.

Polls are open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the following locations:

• Chilliwack Middle School Gymnasium, 46354 Yale Road

• Evergreen Hall, 9291 Corbould Street

• Greendale Fire Hall, 6485 Sumas Prairie Road

• Promontory Heights Community School Gymnasium, 46200 Stoneview Drive

• Rosedale Traditional Community School Gymnasium, 50850 Yale Road

• Sardis Elementary School Gymnasium, 45775 Manuel Road

• Watson Elementary School Gymnasium, 45305 Watson Road

• Yarrow Community Hall, 4670 Community Street

Be sure to watch www.theprogress.com Saturday night for results.

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