Island Conservatives can get help in leadership vote Saturday

While the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race won't wrap up until May 27, Island conservatives can get a little help if they don't understand the new voting procedures.

On Saturday the party will set up five locations across the Island where voters can come, get their IDphotocopied, ask questions about the forms and finally send off their completed ballot.

Martha Ellis, the president of the Charlottetown Conservative Association, said the initiative is meant to help people who may not understand the new ranking voting system, or have the ability to photocopy their ID.

"We're making it easy for ... our members to vote for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership," said Ellis.

Ellis said the party has over 1000 members on the Island and the leadership campaign has increased the membership by 50 per cent.

"The candidates have done their work down here, courting all the members," said Ellis

Ellis doesn't think there is a clear winner yet and thinks most Islanders are still undecided.

"I think people are still deciding...I think people are still weighing their options," said Ellis.

To call the Conservative Party leadership field crowded would be an understatement. The last Liberal Party of Canada leadership race only had six candidates by the time the convention was held. Even the very crowded United States Republican Presidential Candidate race only had 12 candidates by the time voting began at the Iowa caucuses.

While Ellis said it can be a little confusing with so many candidates, it helps that many of them visited the Island.

"We're very fortunate that 11 of the 14 [candidates] had been into Prince Edward Island. We're pretty excited about that," said Ellis.

The help sessions will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. May. 13 at the Tired Iron Antique Club in Carleton, the Parkview Senior's Club in Summerside, the Central Queen's Health Centre in Hunter River, the PC Party office in Charlottetown and at the town office in Montague.

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