Sarnia residents, who might be busy on municipal election night, are being given the option of casting their ballots online in advance starting October 14.
Communications Manager Steve Henschel said voter information letters should be arriving in the mail in the coming days.
He said it contains all of the necessary information, including a PIN (personal identification number) to cast an online ballot.
"What's really important is that if you don't get one by early next week, you can go to sarnia.ca/voterslist," he said. "There's an online tool there to see if you're on the voters' list. If you're not, or your information is incorrect, there's also a form and process there on how to add yourself to the voters' list or correct your information on the voters' list."
Henschel said online voting was a secure method when they used it in 2018.
"Residents shouldn't be worried at all," he said. "We ran the election in 2018, as you'll recall, entirely via online voting. Working with the vendor, who is an industry professional, all the checks are in place to not only ensure that their private information is secure but the secrecy of the ballot, those essential tenants of the elections act, are upheld through the technology."
There are nine candidates vying for four city/county councillor positions, and 25 people in the running for the four additional council seats.
Residents will also be electing school board trustees.
Meanwhile, the city will be operating a voter help centre. It will be located on the first floor of City Hall, and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week, from October 14 to 23.
On election day, October 24, the centre will be open 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and votes can be cast in-person at one of nine polling stations.
Residents can also call 1-877-472-7642 for support.
