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Advance polls open for soldiers in Kandahar

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Date: Saturday Oct. 4, 2008 3:27 PM ET

Election day for most voters is Oct. 14, but Canadians soldiers in Afghanistan have already started to cast their ballots.

Advance voting is now underway way at Kandahar Air Field and at forwarding operating bases in the country.

A military elections officer said there have been some challenges in getting ballots to soldiers in some of Afghanistan's more remote locations. But he noted that no Canadian soldier will be denied the right to vote.

Soldiers and Canadian civilians attached to military operations in Afghanistan will be able to cast their ballots -- for a candidate in his or her home riding -- until Oct. 8.

One soldier said the political parties' positions on Afghanistan were paramount in his voting process.

"The party that's going to support me the most while I'm over here is a big concern for me ... that's kind of the way I voted this year," Cpl. Dave MacDonald said.

Last March, Parliament overwhelmingly passed a motion to extend the military mission in Afghanistan to 2011.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said last month that Canada's military commitment in the country will end at that time.

The Liberals have also said the country's military focus in Afghanistan should end in 2011 and they had supported the Tories in the spring to extend the mission. The NDP had voted against extension.

More than 2,500 Canadian soldiers are based in Afghanistan.

Comments are now closed for this story

Momma Bird
said

"No gun...No Service"....LoL Glad to hear they are able to take part in the vote, as our soldiers have been a big part of discussion over the year.

Mark Raymond
said

To Sargeant Al,

Many Canadians especially those living in Toronto have this foolish notion. Their sincerely believe that all it takes to end evil is to ban hand guns. Please forgiven them for their ignorance as this is the tripe their politicians feed them. Wake up Canadians. This isn't Hobbit Town.


Jeff from Calgary
said

First I'd like to express my support for all our soldiers and their mission. Be safe!

I suspect Harper gets the majority of those votes. He has been much better for our military than the Liberals.

P.S. Whats wrong with the pistol? My legally owned pistol is on my table all the time, I give it a good cleaning after each trip to the range. I think it looks right at home there.


Paul Vancouver Island
said

The advance polls are open and still the Conservatives have no published platform. No plan, no option to compare to the other Party Platforms. Next week is too late guys, game over.


kyle josey
said

to Al
rethink what you're saying...
The Afghan people are our friends, Canada's friends, therefore YOUR friends. now tell me, if your buddy was being beat down in front of your, are going to turn your back ? well in this case it seems you would, but Canada didn't.

We ARE there for a GOOD reason, i was there in 07 and fought along side the ANA more than once, and to see so many of them fight and possibly die for the good of their country was more than enough for me to lace up my boots and keep going.


Ryan in MB
said

Somewhat misleading story - everyone in the Canadian Forces votes early on a Federal Election. The rest of us voted last week.


Allison
said

I currently deployed to Afghanistan and I am disgusted by most of these comments. The ignorance among canadians about our military and its operations I THOUGHT was a thing of the past, but clearly there are people who have absolutly no idea what is going on with the Canadian military and its operations in afghanistan.

I bet none of you have ever cried from hearing the national anthem. Some of you should really do more research before making comments like the ones posted here.


Ottawa soldier
said

A gun on the table....in a war zone.....kinda sounds like a Liberal attack ad......lol

People usually carry guns in war zones...get your heads out of the sand!


Sergeant Al
said

Military personnel exercising their democratic obligation. Does this even require commentary? Comment sections have to be the laziest form of journalism ever created.

PS.
We are at war over there and are required to carry weapons (leaving it in the issued holster can be a little uncomfortable if sitting for a long time; note that the magazine is also removed)


Andy D (from TO)
said

About the pistol on the table - read the caption. "At a remote forward operating base.." these solders you see are not just in Afghanistan, they are at a FOB, in a war zone. Do you think that soldiers just walk around leaving their rifles and other weapons laying around figuring "If we're attacked I have 5 minutes to run back to my bunk to grab my weapon!" NO. And a weapon out of sight or unsecured is unacceptable.

Al - Harper didnt send our men & women into Afghanistan, thank Chretien for getting us in there and Martin for putting us in the most dangerous province. Thank Harper for giving our men & women the equipment they need to accomplish the mission.

Now let's stop politicizing the fact that in our great democracy our Men & Women in uniform half a world away still receive the ability to vote.


Dave
said

Everybody in KAF carries a sidearm, so it's not uncommon to see the pistol on the table. It doesn't mean anything at all, just that the officer or NCM it belongs to has it unholstered. Stop reading into it.


Eric in Edmonton (20 year veteran)
said

Wake up people. The gun is on the table because everybody carries their weapon at all time, in case of an attack. They even carry their weapons to church, I know I was there for nine months. As for voting against Uncle Steve, that would mean getting out of Afghanistan and moving to Africa. Better the devil you know than the one you don't.


Harper all the way
said

I don't understand how people can understand the "Taliban" culture and abuse towards women and think it is "no good reason" to go and help.

Furthermore it's the Liberals that put them there and the Liberals have agreed to keep them there.


Rob Doyle
said

The gun at the table is hilarious!


john in K-W
said

I betcha they'll all vote for the party which formed the government when they were first deployed with the wrong colour uniforms, and grossly inadequate equuipment (-;


Sambro
said

I love the gun sitting on the table. Why is their a handgun at the voting tables ?


Army Wife
said

I'm glad my husband is able to vote while on his 10 month deployment.

I believe about 2500 soldiers ARE in Afghanistan right now on either Roto 5 or 6.

Be safe soldiers! Vote wisely!


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