Riverdale voters may be mingling with the voters of the downtown and Marwell neighbourhoods come Oct. 19.

The city's election procedures bylaw, which passed first and second readings last Monday night, would combine the Riverdale and downtown/Marwell polls into the Whitehorse East division for the municipal election.

Rob Fendrick, the city's chief administration officer, said last week the move to combine the Riverdale poll with downtown is being done in recognition of the change in Whitehorse demographics and the way the population is now spread throughout the city. It's also a more efficient way to run the election, he said.

This change would mean one less division in the city on election day than there has been in the past.

The other three divisions would be Whitehorse West, made up of the Takhini, McIntyre, Granger and Copper Ridge neighbourhoods; Whitehorse South, which would run from Hillcrest to Cowley Creek; and Whitehorse North, made up of Porter Creek and Hidden Valley.

For those who couldn't make it out to vote due to physical incapacity, a mobile poll would be brought, upon request, to their home, the proposed bylaw states.

And further mobile polls would be set up at Whitehorse General Hospital, Macaulay Lodge, Copper Ridge Place and the Whitehorse Correctional Centre from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For those who would still be unable to make to the polls on Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., an advance poll would be open on Oct. 12, also from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, residents considering seeking a spot on council would be required under the bylaw to submit their nomination papers sometime between Sept. 18 and noon Sept. 28.

While the bylaw would require the returning officer to receive nomination papers in council chambers at city hall from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 28, prospective candidates could make an appointment to file their paperwork between Sept. 18 and 10 a.m. on Sept. 28.

The bylaw must pass third reading before it's adopted as law.