A busy Hamilton voter's guide to the whirlwind federal election

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Hamiltonians have a short time period to get informed about the Sept. 20 federal election, says a local expert of federal politics. And with the election being called in the summer, people are likely to be more distracted than usual.

This campaign period is only 36 days, compared to the maximum of 50 days. That means voters have less time to get informed, says Henry Jacek, a McMaster University professor emeritus of political science.

And people tend to be annoyed by summer elections, he says. They're busy seeing friends and family, or relaxing outside. That's particularly true now, he says, given that we've been immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year.

"There are a lot less signs of activity by all parties" in Hamilton, he said. "I expect that we're probably going to have a lower turnout than we might have had in the last couple of elections."

"Some voters, it really takes a while to get them excited about the campaign and get them voting. The longer the time period, the more likely it is to get them to vote."

With just a couple weeks more to go, here's a quick guide to the election race in the Hamilton area so far, including what you need to know to vote:

When is the federal election?

Most Canadians will go to the polls in person on Sept. 20, although there are ways to vote before then. There are advance polls on Sept. 10, 11, 12 and 13. A small number are also already voting right now via special ballot.

Special ballots can be cast by mail or in person, and are available to those who apply for them by Sept. 14, says Dugald Maudsley, an Elections Canada spokesperson.

The number of people who vote this way is small. In 2019, 55,000 people cast special ballots, he says. Most of those were Canadians living overseas, travelers, or people in the armed forces. But anyone can cast a special ballot.

Elections Canada doesn't have local numbers yet for how many have voted by special ballot, Maudsley says. But across Canada, 45,282 people have voted so far of the 344,656 voting kits distributed.

Maudsley says the pandemic will likely prompt more people to vote by special ballot compared to 2019.

What's my riding?

Find it here by entering your postal code. Elections Canada has also started mailing out voter cards, and most people should get them by Sept. 10.

Who's running in my riding?

Here's every registered candidate, in every local riding, as of Sept. 1:

Flamborough-Glanbrook

• Conservative — Dan Muys.
• Green — Thomas Hatch.
• Liberal — Vito Sgro.
• New Democratic Party — Lorne Newick.
• People's Party — Bill Panchyshyn.

Conservative David Sweet isn't running again, so the riding doesn't have an incumbent.

Hamilton Centre

• Conservative — Fabian Grenning.
• Green — Avra Caroline Weinstein.
• Liberal — Margaret Bennett.
• NDP — Matthew Green (incumbent).
• People's Party of Canada — Kevin Barber.
• Communist Party of Canada — Nivel Cheriyan.
• Independent — Nathalie Xian Yi Yan.

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek

• Conservative — Ned Kuruc.
• Green — Larry Pattison.
• Liberal — Chad Collins.
• NDP — Nick Milanovic.
• People's Party — Mario Ricci.

Liberal Bob Bratina isn't running again, so this riding doesn't have an incumbent.

Hamilton Mountain

• Conservative — Al Miles. 
• Green — Dave Urquhart.
• Liberal — Lisa Hepfner.
• NDP — Malcolm Allen.
• Christian Heritage — Jim Enos.
• People's Party — Chelsey Taylor.

NDPer Scott Duvall isn't running again, so this riding has no incumbent.

Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas

• Conservative — Bert Laranjo.
• Green — Victoria Galea.
• Liberal — Filomena Tassi (incumbent).
• NDP — Robert Henriquez.
• People's Party — Dean Woods.
• Rhinoceros Party — Spencer Rocchi.

Brantford-Brant

• Conservative — Larry Brock.
• Green — Karleigh Csordas.
• Liberal — Alison Macdonald.
• NDP — Adrienne Roberts.
• People's Party — Cole Squire.
• Independent — Leslie Bory.
• Independent — John The Engineer Turmel.

This riding has most recently been Conservative but Phil McColeman isn't running again, so it doesn't have an incumbent.

Burlington

• Conservative — Emily Brown.
• Green — Christian Cullis.
• Liberal — Karina Gould (incumbent).
• NDP — Nick Page.
• People's Party — Michael Bator.
• Rhinoceros — Jevin David Carroll.

Haldimand-Norfolk

• Conservative — Leslyn Lewis.
• Liberal — Karen Matthews.
• NDP — Meghan Piironen.
• Christian Heritage — Charles Lugosi.
• People's Party — Ken Gilpin.
• Veterans Coalition Party — George McMorrow.

Conservative Diane Finley isn't running again, so there's no incumbent.

Niagara Centre

• Conservative — Graham Speck.
• Green — Kurtis McCartney.
• Liberal — Vance Badawey (incumbent).
• NDP — Melissa McGlashan.
• People's Party — Michael Kimmons.

Niagara Falls

• Conservative — Tony Baldinelli (incumbent).
• Green — Melanie Holm.
• Liberal — Andrea Kaiser.
• NDP — Brian Barker.
• People's Party — Peter Taras.

Niagara West

• Conservative — Dean Allison (incumbent).
• Green - Joanna Kocsis.
• Liberal - Ian Bingham.
• Nameer Rahman - NDP.
• Harold Jonker - Christian Heritage Party.
• People's Party - Shaunalee Derkson.

St. Catharines

• Conservative — Krystina Waler.
• Green — Catharine Rhodes.
• Liberal — Chris Bittle (incumbent).
• NDP — Trecia McLennon.
• People's Party — Rebecca Hahn.

How can I learn more?

Cable 14 is airing all-candidates debates again this year for all five of Hamilton's ridings. They'll be broadcast live from the Westdale Cinema, although the public can't attend in person. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Hamilton District Labour Council will ask questions. So will local media, including CBC Hamilton.

The schedule is as follows:

• Flamborough-Glanbrook: Sept. 7, 7 p.m.
• Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas: Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
• Hamilton Centre: Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
• Hamilton East-Stoney Creek: Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
• Hamilton Mountain: Sept. 16, 7 p.m.

The Association of Dundas Churches also plans an online all-candidates meeting for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas on Sept. 14.

The Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion is also organizing a series of online roundtables dealing with systemic racism, poverty and disability rights. Other partners include the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association, the City of Hamilton, the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre, Hamilton Students for Justice, and McMaster University's school of social work. 

The Hamilton Centre event will be on Sept. 9, Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas on Sept. 10, Hamilton Mountain on Sept. 11, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek on Sept. 13 and Flamborough-Glanbrook on Sept. 14.