Don't like your voting options? Decline your ballot

A trend towards lower voter turnout continues in ridings in northeastern Ontario, and one democracy watcher is urging people to show up at polls today — even to simply decline their ballot.

Elections Ontario reports 4,011 votes were cast at advance polls in the Sudbury riding — down nearly 1,000 ballots from the last election. Advance polls were open three fewer days than in the last provincial election.

All ridings across northeastern Ontario reflect the provincial trend of lower voter turnout for advance polls, said Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch.

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He said if people don't like any of their voting options, they should still consider going to a polling station and decline their ballot.

“If you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain … especially in Ontario where you have the right to decline your ballot and vote none of the above.”

Just 65 ballots were officially declined in northeastern Ontario ridings last election. In Sudbury, just 13 ballots were officially declined last time around.

If people don't make the effort to decline their vote, it makes it hard to tell if they're protesting their options, or just being apathetic.

“If you stay at home, then politicians assume you don't care what they do or who they are, in terms of what party is in power, and they will never address your concerns,” Conacher continued.

The option to register a "none of the above" vote by asking to decline your ballot is not widely publicized by Elections Ontario.

But it’s an important democratic move that is clearer “than spoiling your ballot and it's better than staying at home,” Conacher said.

With voter turnout at historic lows in Ontario he said he hopes people register their dissatisfaction with a declined vote — rather than skipping the election altogether.

Sudbury area poll location changes:

The nearly 900 registered voters in the Estaire-Wanup area can cast their vote Thursday at the local Fire Hall.

The change comes after voters were directed to St. Benedicts School to vote — nearly a half-hour drive away.

After the Wanup Community Hall closed, and people were told they would have to travel into Sudbury's south end to cast a ballot, Wanup-Estaire resident Ian Plummer started a petition to bring the vote closer to home.

Nickel Belt returning officer Pauline Renaud said an exception was needed from Elections Ontario to allow people to vote in a fire hall — and it was approved.

Meanwhile, road construction has forced a change for voters in Sudbury's south end.

Polls planned for the Amberwood Suites have been moved because of construction on Regent Street.

For people who live south of Regent street, the new pole location is Ecole-publique Helene-Gravel.

For those who live north of Regent, the poll will be at the Holiday Inn.