Confused by electoral reform? Help is coming to you

Elections PEI has hiredpolitical science students to travel the Island this summer, explaining electoral reform in all its varied splendour.

Two of the studentsstaffed an information kiosk Thursdayin a downtown Charlottetown mall. It marked the first appearance of the travelling display, which will travel from Souris to O'Leary and points in between.

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"It's a subject that interests me. It's great to be helping people," said staff member Justin Clory.

He and co-worker Taya Nabuurshanded out brochures and answered questions for a couple dozen people who stopped at their booth.

A couple of firsts

The kiosk ishelping P.E.I.'s 100,000 registered voters wrap their heads around a cluster of new ideas and ways of exercising their democratic rights.

For the first time on P.E.I., 16- and 17-year olds will be allowed to vote in a plebiscite.

And, for the first time on P.E.I., voters will have the option to cast their ballots online or by touch-tone phone.

And then there's the big question: Which of the five options to choose, asIslanders weigh the pros and cons of electoral reform?

Not too late to register

"P.E.I. traditionally has high voter turnout," said Paul Alan, director ofcommunications for Elections PEI.

"I think Islanders are going to be really engaged this summer to seethepossible new options onhow votes are conducted."

Staff at the Elections PEI travelling kiosk will also be able to register new voters as they visit Island communities this summer.

They'll need to see two pieces of ID, including one with a photo and one with a current address.

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