Several New Westminster schools are serving as polling stations today – and the New Westminster school district is reassuring families that students will be kept safe.
Polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today in B.C. for Canada’s 44th general federal election.
Among the voting places in the New Westminster-Burnaby riding are eight school district facilities: Connaught Heights, Lord Kelvin, Queen Elizabeth, Herbert Spencer and Qayqayt elementary schools, plus Glenbrook and Fraser River middle schools and the Massey gym at the old NWSS.
(Note that polling stations are assigned by Elections Canada, and your station may not be at your child's school; to find out where you should vote, check your voter information card or see the Elections Canada website.)
“Elections serve as great opportunities in schools to have conversations with students about government and the responsibility we each have to participate in democracy,” said a post from the New Westminster school district. “At a district level, it’s an important opportunity for us to provide space, as dependable and committed partners with our broader community here in New Westminster.”
The post outlines numerous safety precautions that will be in place to keep students, staff and community members safe.
Among them:
- Voters will only be permitted to use exterior entrances that feed directly into the spaces being used.
- Each site will have clear signage to direct voters to the appropriate entrances and access points.
- Students will be directed away from walking routes and the entrances being used by Elections Canada.
- The public will have no access to any area of the schools where students and staff are.
- Cleaning schedules have been coordinated, ensuring that all products being used meet the standards required within schools.
- The gymnasiums where the elections are being held will have a deep clean after the elections are over and before students or staff can enter them.
SAFETY INSIDE POLLING STATIONS
Elections Canada has also implemented a number of extra protocols in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a mask requirement, hand sanitizer stations, use of barriers and larger distancing measures than usual. Each desk will only have one poll worker, behind a Plexiglas barrier, rather than the usual two.
Voters are also reminded that the number of people in polling stations will be restricted, so turn up prepared to wait outside if necessary.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
