Something to talk about: Advanced polls open for federal election ahead of Thanksgiving weekend

TORONTO – Politics is a topic best avoided at family gatherings, but that’ll be hard to do this Thanksgiving with the federal election just 10 days away and advanced polls opening Friday morning.

They’ll be open right through the long weekend, including on Thanksgiving Monday.

Many voters say they’ll take advantage of the early opportunity to cast a ballot, but some say they’ll keep their decision quiet when with family.

Kurtis, a voter in Toronto, says political arguments are enough to put one off one’s pumpkin pie.

“You don’t bring that up at turkey dinner,” he says with a chuckle. “Unless you want to lose a finger.”

Others agree that keeping mum about which name you placed an ‘X’ next to on your ballot sheet is the best way to go.

However, there are people on the other side of the argument who say it’s inevitable: someone is going to start talking politics.

Don is one of those people who says that will likely be the case, at least at his Thanksgiving gathering. When that happens, he’s gone.

“I stay away from everything,” he says. “We go to my sister-in-law’s, I just go outside on the balcony.”

Gwen is also of the mind that there’s no avoiding the inevitable debate over candidates and political parties this weekend.

“We’re going to hope that everyone’s had enough wine, that we can laugh it off,” she jokes. “Because I don’t think it’d end up in a good conversation.”

Some advice from voters: keep things light, don’t get personal, and remember — you’re probably not going to be the one to change people’s minds.

Advance polling locations are printed on the voter ID card you should have received in the mail. You can also find out where you can cast your ballot through Elections Canada.