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PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2000 - 3 Scugog council gives nod to balloting by mail proposal By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star Scugog Township resi- dents will have a novel way of casting their ballots in the November munici- pal elections: By mail. Councillors agreed Monday to the "vote by mail" alternative to the traditional polling station for several reasons: it will be easier for out-of-town voters, ill and disabled voters to cast their ballots; it will likely lead to a high- er voter turn-out; it will do away with proxy and advance voting; and in the long run, will save the municipality money. Essentially the system works this way: All electors on the voters' list in September will receive an election. kit from Canada Post containing ballots with names of those run- ning for the various seats on council and school boards. The elector fills in the ballots with the traditional black X, and mails the kit to .the township clerk's office. As of 6 p.m. on elec- tion day (Nov. 13 this year), the kits will be opened and the ballots counted. Each kit contains full instructions with special envelopes to guarantee secrecy. Township councillors liked the idea after read- ing a detailed report Monday prepared by Kim Coates of the clerk's department. Canada Post charges $1.55 for each voter. In 1994, Scugog had 15,570 eligible voters, so the total cost would have been $24,133, plus anoth- er 10 per cent for other costs, said the report. Under the old system, the cost of holding the munic- ipal election was over $30,000. The main savings will come with the elimination of polling clerks on elec- tion day, doing away with polling stations and notifi- cation cards. In agreeing with the recommendation by staff to implement the vote by mail system this year, councillors noted that there will have to be an extensive public relations campaign prior to the election to inform voters of how it works. Thieves struck at the All-Flags gas bar on Hwy. 7A in Nestleton last weekend, stealing a $600 car stereo system and a black hood bra. Durham Police report that sometime between 3 p.m. on April 15 and 10 a.m. on April 16 thieves smashed the driver's side window on a 1990 Chev Cavalier to gain entry. Once inside they removed the stereo. Damage to the vehi- Thieves hit gas bar cle, which is owned by a Caesarea resident who - works at the gas bar, is estimated at $700. In other news, a 1991 Eagle Talon was taken from a public parking lot in Uxbridge while its owner was catching a movie at the local the- atre, police say. Sometime between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on April 15, police say thieves stole the vehicle, which was left unlocked. LA-Z-BOY Easter Egg Ag 7 Fo 2g fi - An, % of Women's & Girls Dresses by * Sophisticates ® Joque * Papillon ® Nadine ® Asian Creations ® Jolene & Mare! Men's Shirts by Arrow Sizes S, M, L, XLL / EASTER - HOLIDAY HOURS: Fri., April 21 CLOSED Sat., April 22 9:30 am.-5:30 pm. Sun., April 23 CLOSED ~ Mon., April 24 9:30 am.-5:30 pm. / S500 0 uel. 1] / 4 ! UL \ SCOU Wy Nf] 1 A 5 *excluding Tory Hilfiger, Guess?, Dox 15 Point Zero Sale Ends Monday, April 24 LY FY ut ~ B Ra IS RBR@ZCK Port Pern RIRRESIL RIN IGN 78 Queen Street, O()S-O85-2521 Kids 168 - In Oshawa URNITURE ALLERIES 900 Champlain Ave, 1-800-042-4501 005) 723-5211 NT A A A A A A A NE rT TR A A oo A re I a A a a A UR ba a a a a ay a Fa AMS sual ely Ss N