‘X’ marks the spot - P.E.I. votes today

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Just in case it has escaped your notice: there is a provincial election today.

All P.E.I. residents are invited to vote for a new district MLA and have a say in the electoral reform referendum.

Ed MacKinnon will be voting in today’s election for sure.

“Our grandparents, our uncles fought in the war so we can participate in an open democratic process,” he said.

MacKinnon was enjoying a birthday lunch with siblings Shane and Helena in Summerside on Monday. They had already voted in advance polls, they smugly informed their brother sitting across the able from them.

“P.E.I seems to have more choices in political parties now. When we were brought up, there were only two: red or blue,” said MacKinnon.

The Elections P.E.I. website has all the information voters need to get out and vote, or call 1-888-234-8683.

“If you’re an eligible elector, you’re allowed to vote. You can go and get registered right at the poll,” said Tim Garrity, P.E.I.’s chief electoral officer. “ID is not required it just makes things a little bit easier and smoother – you can swear you are who you are, sign an oath and you live where you live and we’ll take that declaration and you’re allowed to vote.”

Canadian college and university students on the Island may also vote in this election – as long as you moved here before late August.

“Students can be a little bit different. Still, if this is their residence and this is where they’d like to vote and they’re Canadian citizens over the age of 18, they’re allowed to vote here for sure.”

Up-to-the-moment election coverage will be available at the Journal Pioneer website all evening as events unfold and into Wednesday.

Twitter.com/AlisonEBC

Voting information

How to vote:

• Take your voter card to the polls and vote!

If you don’t have a voter card:

• Check where your polling station is. It’s based on your address on March 26 when the election was called.
• Register on site
• Vote

Who can vote:

• A Canadian citizen who has been living on the Island for six months as of election day, April 23, and is
• 18 years old or older.