JASON SETNYK
Cornwall City Council engaged in a lengthy debate at a recent meeting over a by-law which sets the dates and hours for advance voting and reduced hours in certain institutional settings for the 2026 municipal election.
The by-law proposed three advance voting days at Cornwall Square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with online voting beginning October 19 and running till Election Day October 26.
Councillor Sarah Good said she pulled the item to highlight changes from the 2022 election. “In previous years the polls had been opened 10 to 6,” she noted, adding that “between the hours of 4 and 6, there tends to be very little traffic as people go home for supper.”
Councillor Denis Sabourin raised strong concerns. “Having polls between 9 and 4 is actually restricting the timeframe,” he said, arguing that evening hours capture shift workers and those transitioning between jobs. He moved an amendment to extend advance voting to 8 p.m., saying he would oppose the by-law without it.
Councillor Elaine MacDonald supported the extension, calling a 4 p.m. closing “unreasonable” and stating, “All three days should be open till 8 o’clock.” Councillor Dean Hollingsworth confirmed he would support the amendment after clarifying the hours.
Good then raised an operational concern: Cornwall Square’s stores now close earlier. “I do have the agreement in my office but I do believe that it’s only until 6 p.m.,” said City Clerk, Denise Labelle-Gelinas. Councillor Carilyne Hébert added that although most shops close at 6, the hallway to Shoppers Drug Mart remains open until 9 p.m., making extended hours “very simple to accommodate.”
Councillors Maurice Dupelle and Fred Ngoundjo both voiced support. Dupelle said later hours would help residents “finishing work… go and vote.” Ngoundjo emphasized the city’s goal of increasing turnout and asked about staffing impacts. The clerk explained that running from “9:30 to 8 o’clock at night” would require hiring additional staff and likely using two shifts, adding, “We can do anything as long as we have money in the budget.”
Mayor Justin Towndale also supported the extension, recalling long lineups at the Benson Centre in 2022. “We don’t want people showing up to vote and leaving… that’s a failure of democracy,” he said. The amendment to extend hours carried.
In addition, the City scheduled a special advance poll October 23, specifically for senior retirement residents, offering voting times from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. across multiple residences. These included Adolphus Court, Augustus Court, Sunset Towers, Chateau Cornwall, Beek Lindsay, Greenview Manor, Sandfield Residence, Heritage Heights, Heritage Suites, McConnell Manor, Riverfront Retirement Centre, and Riverdale Terrace, ensuring seniors could vote directly within their buildings.
Attention then turned to online voting. Sabourin objected to approving it without a detailed report. “We never received a report as to how this internet voting would be done,” he said, adding that clarity on ballot security and voting locations was required before endorsing the method.
Good agreed, proposing a deferral so council could receive information on security, polling locations, and possibly an earlier start to online voting. “I would like to see electronic voting be available prior to the 19th,” she said, citing potential technical issues and the need for extra time.
Hébert asked whether waiting until the March 23 meeting would hinder election preparations. Labelle-Gélinas replied that she needed confirmed locations and hours to complete the legally required election manual by May 1.
She then provided an overview of confirmed sites-including City Limits, St. Lawrence High School, Trinity Hall Centre Charles-Emile Claude, the new fire hall, Sacred Heart School, and Public Works Department. Negotiations are in progress for St. Lawrence High School and Viscount Alexander School.
MacDonald added that “security was left out of the list,” prompting the clerk to confirm ongoing work with the city’s IT department and the provider, Voatz, Inc., on cybersecurity. Councillor Claude McIntosh remarked that residents were already asking practical questions and that “it’d be good to have a public session.”
Council ultimately supported Good’s motion to defer, with the clerk set to return with a comprehensive report.
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