Some Kaleden residents driving to Penticton to cast ballot after polling boundary changes

PENTICTON – A number of voters in the community of Kaleden are discovering to their dismay their polling station is no longer just down the street following changes to the community's polling boundaries.

Assistant returning officer Douglas Youngstrom says this year’s polling boundary runs along Skaha Lake, all the way to Penticton, placing a number of Kaleden residents along the lakeshore in another polling district. He couldn't say how many residents were affected by the change.

“It’s about numbers,” Youngstrom says. “Each polling area contains about 400 voters.”

Kaleden voters in polling district 108 will find their polling station nearly 11 kilometres away at the Seniors Centre on South Main in Penticton, while voters in polling district 109 continue to vote at the Kaleden Community Hall.

“It’s ridiculous,” says Kaleden resident Bruce Shepherd, who lives on Ponderosa Drive along Kaleden’s lakeshore. “Instead of going to Kaleden Hall, which I can walk to, I’m now expected to drive into Penticton to vote. It makes no sense at all, especially from an environmental standpoint.”

Shepherd says he will be making his concerns known to Elections Canada.

Youngstrom says he’s sympathetic to the situation, but adds there are many ways for residents to cast their vote. Elections Canada can make arrangements to those who are housebound to have a representative come to their house if necessary. Residents interested in this service should call 1-800-463-6868.

Voters can also make use of advance polls, which take place Friday, Oct. 9, Saturday, Oct. 10, Sunday, Oct. 11 and Monday, Oct. 12, or drop in to the Elections Canada office in Penticton Plaza any time the office is open.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.