WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,1987, PAGE 9 Hectie times for Durham' Centre 's returning officer The Sept. 10 election cail bas seen a 'number of firsts in Whitby in- cluding the brand new riding of Durham Centre, and with it, a new returming officer. "Basically I have to run tbis of- fice and tbe election," said Jane Burch, an 11-year resident of Whit- by wbo decided to apply for the job because of ber interest in politics. The office is located at 100 Blair St.. and is open from il a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Burch says she bad been looking for office space in Durham Centre prior to the election cail but "no arrangements were made until tbe electiopi was officialy called. " Sbe chose the Blair St. location. because it is centrally located in Durham Centre. Burch's duties during the election actually began in January. At that time, she had to project the number of new subdivisions in the riding in order to divide the riding into pollirng divisions. She bas divided the riding into 182 divisions, a number she says is 4"very accurate. " Her next job was to bire enumerators to make up a voting list. The enunierators, of wbich tbere are two per division, began knocking on doors last Thursday.. The main confusion during enumeration, according to Burch, is tbe re-distribution of the ridings. To qualify to vote, a person must be at least 18 on election day; a Canadian citizen at the time of voting; and a resident of Ontario for at least six months prior to elec- tion day. "'Especially in Oshawa. It is causng confusion," she says. The enwn'erators visited bomes at least tbree times until they found someone at home. Enumeration finished Aug. 19. If no one was home durinig those three calîs a card should have been left. con- taining the phone number and ad- dress of the returning office. Frorn Aug. 20 to 27, those people that were missed can phone the of- fice and- request special enumeration. After Aug. 27 a voter bas to get a certificate aliowing them to vote. While enumerators are usually 18 years of age or older, Burch says she bad to hire a couple age 16 and 17 because the election was called during the suxnmer months. Enumerators receive a basic fee of $52; $30 for attending a training class and 40 cents for each name they colleet. In rural areas, the basic fée is $75. Enumerators must also swear and sign an oath requiring them flot to discuss politics while enumerating. They are also not allowed to wear any party buttons. Another of Burch's duties is set- ting up advance polis. They will be held at both the Whitby municipal building and the Northview Library at 250 Beatrice St. E. in Oshawa on Thursday, Sept. 3, Saturday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 7. Burch also had to choose polling stations in Durham Centre. Each voter will receive a card in- dicating their polling station. Places such as the - Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital and Fairview and Sunnycrest Lodges will have their own polling stations, while Burch has also chosen 18 public schools and six separate schools. Burch describes ber first few weeks on the job as "hectic and in- teresting. " She wil be the retur- ning officer in Durham Centre until the boundaries are once again changed "or until I resign." The phone number of the retur- ning office is 430-2930. j" JANE BURCH is the new returning new riding of Durham Centre. officer for the Free Press photo I-, rpe (perienced credit&nIe basi Hireage naregulrorprtmebs- ;e -