Virgil Hammock

Virgil Hammock
Candidate Ward 3 Councillor
Tantramar Township

I voted Saturday evening in Tantramar at the advanced poll at The Church by the Lake in Middle Sackville and took my son there to vote on Monday afternoon. While the poll workers were extremely friendly and helpful the space was awkward and small, about the size of someone’s living room. I watched on Monday as an older person using a walker tried to vote—it wasn’t pretty. I was told that next Monday’s vote will likely be held in the church’s gym; I certainly hope so. The church is not the right place to vote. Questions as to why need to be asked after the election.

As there is only one poll station in this election, it will be interesting to watch the percentage of voters (not numbers) outside of Ward 3, Sackville, who show up to vote. I also note, in my two visits to the poll, that almost everyone who was voting was elderly if you can judge by white hair. That might be a plus for me as I am the oldest person running, but that misses the point. The turnout for elections, particularly municipal elections, is small and getting smaller. Younger people seem to have better things to do than vote in local elections, but are keen to complain about the results afterwards. I hope that I am proven wrong. It is almost as if this election was designed by the provincial government to fail. Despite all that, please, if you have not already done so, vote.