Advance polls open in provincial Ottawa-Vanier byelection with 11 candidates

Voters have more choice than ever with 11 candidates, as advance polls open for the byelection in the provincial riding of Ottawa-Vanier.

• Focus on hydro rates, appetite for change in Ottawa-Vanier byelection

It's one of two provincial byelections set for Thursday November 17; the other is in the riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook.

The Ottawa-Vanier seat is up for grabs after long-time Liberal MPP Madeleine Meilleur retired in July.

Candidates include:

• ClaudeBisson, New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Kevin Clarke, The Peoples Political Party
• Elizabeth deVielCastel, Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda
• Nathalie DesRosiers, Ontario Liberal Party
• Dean T. Harris, Ontario Libertarian Party
• AndrMarin, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
• StephanieMcEvoy, Canadian Constituents' Party
• DavidMcGruer, Freedom Party of Ontario
• RaphalMorin, Green Party of Ontario
• JohnTurmel, Pauper Party of Ontario
• AboveZnoneofthe, None of the Above Party

Byelections have notoriously featured low voter turnouts, with typically under 35 per cent of the electorate taking part. Still, the large number of candidates not seen in the riding's modern electoral history suggests there's a lot of interest in the outcome.

CBC poll analyst ricGrenier said the two byelections are a good barometer of the current health of the Ontario Liberals under Premier Kathleen Wynne, who currently suffers her lowest approval ratings since the previous provincial election.

As advance polls open, Grenier notes that voting early is growing more and more popular, with a record breaking 21 per cent of voters casting an early ballot ahead of the 2015 federal election.

Meilleur hadheld the provincial riding of Ottawa-Vanier since 2003 before stepping down, and it has been a Liberal stronghold for the provincial party since the 1960s.

The riding is made up of communities like the Byward Market, Sandy Hill, Overbrook and parts of Gloucester.

Advance polls will last seven days until Nov. 11. Polls will open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

A list of advance polls are available here.

Special ballot voting will continue at the Ottawa-Vanier returning office until Nov. 16.