A group of Calgary volunteers is helping first-time voters get comfortable casting a ballot.

In the weeks leading up to the federal election, VoteKit is setting up pop-up polling stations at public libraries across the city.

The project aims to remove barriers to voting by sharing non-partisan information on elections and knowledge on how to vote.

"Often the stereotype of the non-voter is that they're apathetic or even lazy. When actually, it's logistical barriers that are getting in the way of people voting," said VoteKit volunteer Ellen Close.

"At our very first event, we had a woman who actually sat outside our event for about half of it because she was actually intimidated to come in. That was the level of discomfort she felt asking basic questions."

Volunteers set up a mock polling station in northeast Calgary in advance of the 2013 municipal election. (Neil Herland/CBC)

Close says the mock polling stations are aimed at young voters, seniors and new Canadians.

She says anyone who shows up at an event will be walked through the ballot box process and encouraged to ask questions.

"Even simple things like: you're only voting for one candidate, that you're making an 'X' instead of a check-mark — those are all useful things to go through if you're coming from a different type of voting process."

Pop-up polling stations