Masked cowboy voter irks Edmonton polling officials

A masked man who showed up at a polling station in south Edmonton on Mondaydrew little reaction from voters, but irked federal election officials.

One voter, Christian Munoz,was just leaving theRiverbend polling station at Father WilliamIrwin schoolwhen henoticed an unusual coupletrying to draw attention.

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"One was wearing a cowboy hat, sort of scarf around his face covering everything but his eyes. His partner, a female, was behind him holding aniPad," he said.

"The woman had a smile and said to him, 'Are you ready for this?'"Munozsaid. "So I think they were trying to get that reaction,to get the attention."

That promptedMunozto shootvideo, but not many of the other voters at the polling station tooknotice.

"Nobody really reacted. Some people did take notice, but nobody really said anything. There was a bit of pointing ... but nothing I would think they expected."

Itwasn'tuntil the couplewasleavingthatelectionofficialsspoke up, but itwasn'tthe man's get-up that irked them,Munozsaid. It was the woman'siPad.

Electionofficialstold the coupleit wasillegalto record videoin a polling station,he said.

"He pleaded with him, and asked themtoerase the footage and they refused."

According to the Elections Canada website, voters are not allowed to take photographs or make audio or video recordings inside a polling station.

Munozsaid he wasn't sure what point the couple was trying to make.

"I think they were trying to make a mockery of the whole election process and the decision to allow women who do choose to wear the niqab to vote and to become citizens and so forth," he said.

"I was very offended by what he was doing or trying to do."

Once the man produced proper identification, he was allowed to vote, Munoz said.

Elections Canada saidsimilar events have occurredat other advance polls across the country.

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