How to vote

Working to reach all eligible voters

So much geography, so few folks. Such physical and human considerations define many of the challenges of governing Prince Edward County. It is no less a factor when working to extend electoral rights to all eligible voters.

The high proportion of part-time residents— those with another home in the city or elsewhere —makes it doubly hard. By some estimates, seasonal residents may comprise as much as a quarter of the population—others put it closer to 20 per cent. In any event, the number of homes used as a second residence is growing. These folks are legally permitted to vote in both places. But reaching these folks is a task.

“Our team’s primary objective is ensuring that distance, timing, or geography never stand in the way of an eligible elector from exercising his/her legal right to vote,” explained Catalina Blumenberg, the County’s clerk and election manager.

“Ultimately, bridging the geographic divide requires offering flexible, modern voting methods that reflect how our ratepayers live. To eliminate physical distance as a barrier entirely, we are providing 226 continuous hours of secure, 24/7 internet voting, opening at 10 a.m. on October 17 and running straight through to 8 p.m. on October 26.”

Blumenberg says it can be difficult to reach seasonal residents, as the voter list defaults to County addresses, which may result in notices sitting in unchecked mailboxes.

In response, the County opened an elections headquarters in Wellington in the spring dedicated to reaching as many eligible voters as possible.

“We launched early address-verification campaigns, first through RegisterToVoteON.ca and now directly through our local portal at pecounty.voterservices.ca to ensure voting information lands in voters’ primary offseason mailboxes,” explained the clerk.

Even long-time residents in the County are encouraged to check in to make sure they are on the voters’ list.

WHY IT MATTERS?
Some readers will ask themselves why the municipality works so hard to reach seasonal residents. Beyond the legislated right to vote in the municipality where one pays property taxes, other principles are at work.

“My core duty is to protect democratic equity by ensuring that every single eligible voter, regardless of their physical ability, living situation, or location, has an equal opportunity to shape the future of Prince Edward County,” explained Blumenberg.

She is proud that the County has been a leader in Internet voting. In 2026, more than 61 of voters exercised their right online.

“I have immense respect for the Clerks before me who had the foresight to implement online voting early on,” said Blumenberg. “That foundation has proven vital.”

Trade offs

No barriers

Until 2018, municipal polling places included the library in Consecon. Some hamlet residents spoke out angrily in 2022 when they were forced to travel to Rossmore or Ameliasburgh, or vote online. It is a sore spot again this year, with residents complaining that their access to the poll has been diminished— and likely won’t come back.

County Clerk Catalina Blumenberg says the decision balanced voter accessibility, facility capacity, and responsible fiscal management. The loss of the polling station didn’t dampen voter participation according to the numbers. Just 1,271 voters in 2018 across three polling stations in Ameliasburgh, while 1,978 voted in Rossmore and Ameliasburgh in 2022.

But ultimately the decision comes down to money. Operating a single voting location costs about $9,000, a significant hurdle, particularly when the benefit cannot be demonstrated in terms of voter participation.

Clerk Blumenberg says geography also plays an important role.

“Even from the furthest outer boundaries of the ward, such as Carrying Place or Weller’s Bay, the maximum drive time to an in-person polling site is only 14 to 16 minutes,” said Blumenberg. “Additionally, residents who prefer to vote online but require computer or Internet access can use the Consecon Library.”

County Transit is offering free on voting day “to ensure transportation is never a barrier.”