Omemee Pigeon eFlyer: Kawartha Lakes Voting Irregularities Cause Concern!! [Editorial]

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Kawartha Lakes Voting Irregularities Cause Concern!! [Editorial]

Kawartha Lakes Landslide Mayoral Victory Proclaimed!

Editorial - Suzanne Sholer B.A. B.Ed.

After waiting for technical problems to be resolved, Kawartha Lakes Mayor was proclaimed in a landslide victory. There are also eight new councillors in the City of Kawartha Lakes. However, several people who voted in person at Victoria Armouries noted anyone who walked through the doors was allowed to vote without showing any ID. Due to irregularities, what should be done?

What did you think of the voting procedure?

Kawartha Lakes Voting Irregularities

Does it shock you to discover, anyone who appeared old enough to vote could do so in City of Kawartha Lakes municipal election? Yes, anyone could walk into Victoria Park Armouries, Lindsay and vote. How do I know? Here is my experience.

Kawartha Lakes Voting Irregularities Cause Concern

Kawartha Lakes Voting - No ID Required

Since I did not receive a voting package, I went to Victoria Hall Lindsay to vote. Entering the hall, I pulled out my driver's license to show at the first table.

"Oh no, you don't need to show that here. Just tell us where you live, and we'll tell you the ward you live in." was the answer.

Being sent to the next station, I was asked which ward I lived in, and handed a statement of residence to complete. Once again, I was told I didn't need to show my ID.
Filling out the form, I was surprised the section for declaring support of school board only contained options for French Immersion, and the Catholic School Boards - no option for the public school board.
I was told to take the form back to station 2, where it was read over. Once again, I was not asked for ID. The form was handed back to me, and then I was told to take the form back to Station 3 where I would receive a voters kit.
After receiving the kit at Station 3, I was sent to station 4, where my information was entered into a computer system. Here we discovered, I'd missed filling in my name. Once again, I was not asked for my ID. I even mentioned the fact I hadn't been asked for ID.

"How do you know I am the person I say I am without seeing ID?"I asked.

"Well , you sign your name two times, so you would be charged with fraud."was the reply.

"What is there to prevent someone from giving any address and signing any name on the forms?" I asked.

"Well the person would be charged with fraud." was the reply.

"So you're telling me they're going to put each form through a hand writing analysis?

All I could do was shake my head in disbelief.
Next, I was directed to complete the ballot. The ballot needed to be sealed in one envelope, then placed in a second envelope with a mailing slip in a second envelope with the address of the City of Kawartha Lakes showing through the window, and THAT envelope placed in a third envelope.
Finally, I was directed to deposit the envelope in the ballot box. Where I commented on the process.

"I'm shocked that no one asked me for ID. Apparently anyone could come through those doors and vote."

"Why would anyone want to do that?" was the reply.

While standing in the vestibule, another couple came out shaking their heads in disbelief, commenting, "What a farce!"

"Were you asked for ID?" I queried.

"No!" came the scathing reply.

A group of people came into the armouries laughing and chatting. One voice rang out above the rest.

"I needed to get up here and vote today, Andy Letham is my cousin."

Kawartha Lakes Election Results

City of Kawartha Lakes unofficial election results are as follows:

Mayor:

Bill Denby 654
Brenda Karagiannis 3888
Andy Letham 16055
John Macklem 2338
Donna Villemaire 4742

Counsellor Ward 11

Susan Hall 428
Marcel Loignon 378
Patrick O'Reilly 2174

Councillor Ward 12

Duncan Gallacher 517
Gord James 1460
Emmanuel Kriticos 24

Councillor Ward 13

Angelo Dal Bello 287
Kathleen Seymour-Fagan 869
Pat Warren 809

Councillor Ward 14

Ron Ashmore 638
Eddie Burton 279
Gail Coplen 272
Gerard Jilesen 878

Councillor Ward 15

Mary Ann Martin 583
Janice Salsbury 268
Karl Seidel 302

Councillor Ward 16

Cosmo Carchidi 432
Linda Carder 108
Heather Stauble 860

English Public School Trustee – Wards 5, 9 and 11

Angela Field 1164
David Morrison 3080
Anna Sproule 1362

English Public School Trustee – Wards 10, 12 and 16 - Karen Round ACCLAIMED
English Public School Trustee – Wards 13, 14 and 15

Elizabeth Peeters 1994
Judy Saunders 2035

English Separate School Trustee - Michelle Griepsma ACCLAIMED
French Public School Trustee

Sylvie A. Landry 41
Claude K. Mbuyi 6

French Separate School Trustee

Roger Brideau 34
Olga Lambert 11
Chanel Tarala-Chahine 6

2014 City of Kawartha Lakes Election Results for other wards and further information can be found on the City of Kawartha Lakes Website.

Did you run into any irregularities in the voting process?

Drop us a comment, or connect with us in one of these ways. We want to hear your views!:

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