Election Day in Chatham-Kent is taking place today, Monday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“If you are a resident, owner or tenant of property in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, a Canadian citizen and 18 years of age you can vote,” Municipal officials say.
“Students living in Chatham-Kent while attending school can vote in both the Chatham-Kent municipal election and their ‘home’ municipality. To confirm if you are on the voters’ list and your information is accurate, please visit the voterlookup.ca website.”
Municipal officials added: “Voter cards were mailed the week of September 26, 2022. If you have not received a voter card in the mail please contact your local municipal centre.”
The voting methods on Election Day include paper ballots with optical scan vote tabulators only.
Approximately 60 individuals have been certified as official candidates for Chatham-Kent Council and area school boards in the October 24 municipal election.
A total of 43 of those candidates are seeking seats on Chatham-Kent Council, Municipal officials say.
There are more than 80,000 electors eligible to vote in this year’s election, Municipal officials added.
In 2018 34,722 votes were cast, 45.4 percent, of those eligible.
That marked the third straight election in which voter turnout increased.
Judy Smith, Chatham-Kent Director of Municipal Governance and Returning Officer, is urging residents to take part in the electoral process.
“Voting is a fundamental right of our democracy,” she said, in a press release.
“When you vote, you are selecting representatives who approve the laws and policies that determine how our community functions.”
In Ward 5, Councillors Aaron Hall and Carmen McGregor ran uncontested and are set to be acclaimed for the two positions on Council representing Wallaceburg.
In Ward 4 – North Kent, eight candidates are running for two spots on Council.
Dennis Fox and Aaron Neaves joined the Ward 4 race on Friday, joining incumbent Jamie McGrail, Rhonda Jubenville, Scott Kilbride, Jim Konecny, Jason Sayer and Steven Scott.
Veteran North Kent Councillor Joe Faas did not file his papers to seek re-election.
The race for Mayor will include three individuals.
Incumbent Mayor Darrin Canniff will be challenged by Andy Fisher and William Pickard.
Four candidates are running for two spots in Ward 1 – West Kent, including: Incumbent Melissa Harrigan, Lauren Anderson, Sandy Maynard and David Serednicki.
Current West Councillor Mark Authier did not file his papers to seek re-election.
Ryan Doyle and Mike Walker will challenge incumbents Trevor Thompson, Anthony Ceccacci and Mary Clare Latimer in Ward 2 – South Kent. Three people will be elected to represent Ward 2.
In Ward 3 – East Kent, Martin Fisher, Matt Lamarche and Moréna McDonald will challenge incumbents Steve Pinsonneault and John Wright. Two people will be elected in East Kent.
A total of 16 candidates are running for one of six spots in Ward 6 – Chatham, including:
– Conor Allin
– Michael Bondy (incumbent)
– Marjorie Crew (incumbent)
– Andrew Elliott
– Amy Finn (incumbent)
– Michael Gibbons
– Karen Kirkwood-Whyte (incumbent)
– Sheila M. Martin
– Brock McGregor (incumbent)
– Lynn O’Brien
– Bonny Pigeon
– Derek Robertson
– Dava Robichaud
– Alysson Storey
– Larry Vellinga
– Carson Warrener
Veteran Chatham Councillor Doug Sulman did not file his papers to seek re-election.
Watch for more Election coverage later in the day.
