City officials hope adding more advance voting days in more locations will increase participation in the 2010 municipal election.

Council passed a bylaw Monday including changes that should continue the trend of increased turnout, said Rick Levac, the city's co-ordinator of elections.

“We are trying to encourage more voters to take advantage of the advance voting,” Levac said. “Especially those that will be leaving the country or going on vacation. It’s an opportunity for those who can’t make it out for whatever reason on Oct. 25.”

This year, the advance polls will open on Saturday, Oct. 2, and operate daily until Friday, Oct. 8, at three locations: the Brantford and District Civic Centre, Woodman Community Centre and Tranquility Hall.

The plan also includes 15 polls during the same week at some local institutions and retirement homes. Those locations were previously open to the general public, but will not be this year.

Levac said turnout at advance polls has increased in recent years.

“It started out anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 people,” he said. “But changes, like the 'vote from anywhere' concept, have brought it up to 5,000.”

The vote from anywhere concept allows voters to cast a ballot for any ward from any of the advance poll locations.