BARRHEAD-Woodlands County councillors delayed deciding during their March 23 meeting,whether or not to allow for the usage of special ballots for the upcoming municipal election in October citing the need for information.
Director of corporate services Alicia Bourbeau, who also serves as the municipality's returning officer, said before the 2017 municipal election, council instructed the administration to make allowances for a special ballot for those eligible voters who cannot vote in-person.
The Local Authorities Act gives municipalities and school divisions the ability to allow those, who are not able to vote in-person on election day or at an advanced poll at a regular voting station, the opportunity to cast their vote via a special ballot.
"The issues that took place south of the border are legitimate. The reliability and timeliness of using ballots and the potential for fraud," said Whitecourt Central Coun. Ron Govenlock. "Applications for the special ballot can go through e-mail along with a wide variety of other mechanisms. I think it warrants a review on how to prevent duplication or other misuses of the system. I am not comfortable with what I see in the [request for decision (RFD)]."
Although some evidence of voting irregularities were found in the 2020 U.S presidential election, no evidence of intentional election fraud was proven in the courts.
Mayor John Burrows asked what in the RFD concerned Govenlock, saying he thought the RFD and the accompanying section of the Local Authorities Act were quite comprehensive.
"I think we have to ensure somehow that process makes sure that the ballots are postmarked and received in a timely fashion and that it does not delay the decision-making process and we have to ensure the integrity of the mail-in ballots are legitimate residents of Woodlands County," Govenlock replied. "We need some clarity about the process.”
The RFD states that eligible voters wishing to vote through a special ballot can make an application through the mail, fax, in-person, or by e-mail.
Burrows then asked if Govenlock had an issue opening the attached documentation, the Local Authorities Act (Section 77.1 to Section 77.3), five pages in total.
The section states that applications must include their first and last name, address, school elector status and if they are voting for a school board trustee, the mailing address to which the special ballot will be mailed to and their contact information. They also must include the reason why they are requesting a special ballot. Ballots must be received no later than election day or by the time and date set out in a resolution.
It also outlines who is eligible to vote via special ballot.
Govenlock admitted the information was there but moved that the administration condense it in a more readily accessed and understood fashion as part of a future RFD. The motion passed unanimously.
Advanced voting
Councillors also approved Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 16 from 12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The polling stations are to be the Whitecourt and Fort Assiniboine municipal offices.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
