Residents who are isolating will be unable to cast a ballot in MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 federal election.

If people have not taken advantage of advanced polling or mail-in voting services to date and are in quarantine, they will not be able to go to the polls, said Leanne Tait, Elections CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 returning officer for the Northwest Territories.

SA国际影视传媒淚f they have been asked or advised to isolate, they should not be coming to the poll on election day,SA国际影视传媒� Tait said. SA国际影视传媒淚f it is not safe for them to leave their house then it is not safe to go to the polls.SA国际影视传媒�

Tait said she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know how many people are in isolation, but she said her team has put some measures in place to ensure as many people can vote as possible.

SA国际影视传媒淲e provided things proactively in advance with longer advanced polling,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淣ormally, advanced polling has been over three days in the past, and this year it was four days.SA国际影视传媒�

There was an option to request to a mail-in ballot whereby an elector could go online to order a special ballot kit or pick one up at Canada Post to fill out. However the application deadline for the mail-in option was Sept. 14.

Independent candidate Jane Groenewegen said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 concerned about what limited access might mean for voters.

SA国际影视传媒淥bviously ISA国际影视传媒檓 concerned about people who may not be able to exercise their right to vote in this election and very much hoping that some kind of accommodation could be made for them,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She wrote chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola on Sept. 16 calling for alternative methods for voting.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have drive-by testing, drive-through vaccinations, would it be possible to work with Elections Canada for some form of drive-by voting?SA国际影视传媒� Groenewegen suggested.

But Tait said the Canada Elections Act is strict about how people can vote.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Canada Election Act is what guides our ability to provide access to voters and our hands are tied,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭here are requirements in there that donSA国际影视传媒檛 allow us the flexibility to do other methods of voting that might be available in say a territorial election or municipal election.SA国际影视传媒�

Dave Monroe, campaign manager for Michael McLeod, said itSA国际影视传媒檚 disappointing that some voters wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to vote because of public health restrictions.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is deeply unfortunate that individuals who have not yet cast their ballots may be unable to vote on Sept. 20 due to COVID isolation requirements,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He pointed out that Elections Canada has the responsibility to protect poll workers and voters during an outbreak, and his team has done what it could to promote early voting.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur campaign had been encouraging voters to go to advanced polls and use the special ballot options (either requesting to vote by mail or voting at the Elections CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 office in the Centre Square Mall), but we recognize those options are no longer available,SA国际影视传媒� he said.