Those working far from their home, and electoral riding, will use special ballots to vote.

Marie-France Kenny, from Elections Canada, says they were already working on a way for displaced and evacuated people to vote in response to the winter storm on Thanksgiving weekend.

"We had been approached by Manitoba Hydro for the people they had commissioned to do work across the province and won't be in their riding," says Kenny.

The original plan, Kenny says, was for hydro workers to be given the time off to travel home to their ridings and vote, but the costs and time used for such a task would be inefficient.

Over the years there have been exceptional circumstances like this for special ballots, but Kenny says in Manitoba's case, "The weather and the state of emergency," contributed to the decision in favour of hydro workers being given the chance to vote.

Their absence from their riding during the time of advance polling also made it difficult for most hydro workers to cast a vote before the polls closed.

Kenny says, "We have already heard from Manitoba Hydro how happy they are that their people can work and vote."

Special ballots, Kenny says, are a secure way for hydro workers to vote for their riding: "They have to prove their address and identity and we have the information as to where they are from."

"We just want them to be able to exercise their right to vote," she says.

"We want to give everybody the opportunity - the same opportunity - for everybody to vote."