Blue Jays get last laugh in election day scheduling conflict

On Monday, as politicians make their final pleaswith supporters to go out and mark their X on a ballot,they will have some tough competition for the attention of many voters.

On election day Monday, Oct.19 the Toronto Blue Jays will host the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

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That means about 50,000 people will be packed into the stands at the Rogers Centre in downtown Torontorather than lining up to cast their ballot that night. Millions more will be watching the baseball game on television at home or in licensed establishments,while polls are still open in much of the country.

The first pitch is at 8:07p.m.ET. Polls close in that time zone at 9:30,whichleaves precious little time for Jays fans to#cometogetherand#pledgetovote.

Elections Canada is well aware of the problem and views itas a "regional voting issue."

It is concerned what impact this may have on polling stations near the stadium as voters contendwith extra traffic chaos.

However, other thanencouragingpeople to get out early to beat the traffic and vote,the agency'shands seem tied.

Past elections haven't been delayed bynatural disasterssuch as the Manitoba floods in 1997, and the Constitution is mute onconflicts between elections and sporting events.

Major League Baseball says its playoffschedule was announced months ago, and itisimpossible to plan for every eventuality.

The league also points out it must schedule Game 6of the World Series for Nov. 3 this year which is voting day in the U.S. for hundreds of municipalities, three gubernatorial races and many other special elections.

How did this happen?

Canada's election date was set more than four years ago. Major League Baseball set the series schedule months ago. The factthe Jays areguaranteed to play in Game 3 of the ALCS was determined on Wednesday by Jose Bautista.

Toronto's rightfielder launched a ball deep into the left-field stands during the seventh inning over the heads of his two teammates already on base and putting his team on course towin the deciding game in a series against the Texas Rangers to advanceto this series against the Royals.

Thesuperstitiousmightsay themain party leaders themselves are partly to blame for the pending gridlock in Canada'slargest city on voting day.

TomMulcair, Stephen Harper, and JustinTrudeaueach attended a different Blue Jays game in the final stretch of the regular season.

Each timetheJays lost.

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The Royals finished the season with two more wins than Toronto, thereby securinghome-fieldadvantage for the series.

Had the Jays won just two ofthose three games attended by afederal leader,they would have finished tied withthe Royals in the standingsand securedhome-field advantage for this series via a tiebreak. That would have putGames 3, 4 and 5 in Kansas City rather than Toronto.

All of this isn't likely tomake much difference for the players themselves only three Blue Jays are Canadian citizens.