Students who moved to Niagara to attend Brock University have a few choices when it comes to casting a ballot in the upcoming federal election.

They get to choose where they register their votes – here or in their hometown.

“If they consider Brock or Niagara to be their home, they can vote here,” said Bob Diakow, Elections Canada returning officer for Niagara Centre, the riding where Brock University’s main campus sits.

He said students also have the option of voting in the riding where they are from.

“It’s their choice,” said St. Catharines returning officer Joe Henriques, who deals with the riding north of Glendale Ave. “They can vote in their home riding without going home.”

He said if a student wants to vote in a riding not reflected on their voting card, they must visit a returning office to cast their ballot before Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. Those votes will count in the riding where the voter’s home address is located.

Henriques said unlike advance and election day polling places – which serve only those whose home is nearby and who are assigned to vote there – Elections Canada offices are open to all voters, no matter where in Canada they live.

If a student wants to vote in their Niagara riding, but has a voter card with their old address, they can go online and update their information at www.elections.ca/register before Oct. 13. Or, students can bring identification to the polling station when they go to vote. Identification needed to vote includes one piece of government-issued photo identification; OR two pieces of ID that include your name and one must have your address (e.g. student card plus a bill, lease or letter from your school); OR if your ID does not have your address, you can take an oath by showing two pieces of ID with your name and have someone who knows you attest to your address.

Diakow said on election day Oct. 19, there will be two polling stations in Brock University residences – in room L134 in Lowenberger and room 211 in Decew.

He said those polling stations are only available to students living in residence.

Students who live off campus can vote at the polling station noted on their voting cards.

Advance polling happens this weekend – Oct. 9-12 from noon to 8 p.m. On election day, polls are open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Brock University’s Students’ Union is encouraging students to sign a pledge to vote and a website has launched to offer information about the process at Brockvotes.ca

The returning office for Niagara Centre is located at 27 Centre St. in Welland and the number is 905-732-6311. The St. Catharines returning office is in the Linwell Plaze on Linwell Rd. in St. Catharines and the number is 1-866-298-6226.