Election process has protocol

Prospective candidates in the area considering a bid for the Oct. 21 municipal election for Taber town council or Horizon School Division board of trustees can pick up their nomination packages today at the Administration Building.

“We’ll have our nomination package available on Wednesday,” said Erika Lukacs, returning officer for the Town of Taber. “Everything is in there as to what the eligibility rules are, and the ineligibility rules. I have some quotes in there from the Local Authorities Election Act that they need to know when they sign the affidavit for the nomination application. I have everything ready in the package, ready to go.”

The nomination package is available at the front desk of the Town of Taber’s administration offices. Nomination day for the municipal election is Sept. 23.

“That’s the day they need to bring in their applications,” said Lukacs.

“I will be there from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the council chambers to accept nominations. We need one mayor and six councillors. If those positions are not filled with nominations, then we will continue another day after that. But I’m hoping we’ll have enough councillors, and maybe we’ll have an acclamation, we don’t know that for sure yet.”

Some nomination information is currently available on the Town of Taber’s website, although a complete nomination package is only available at the front desk.

“There is some information already. It should already be on the website. I didn’t put the entire package on the website — it’s quite a big package, 30 pages — I thought it was a little bit much to put on there. People that are interested, that want to do this, all they need to do is pick up the package, go through it, and then apply for it at a later date. There’s plenty of time to go through the package and go through the acts. There’s a lot to learn.”

Once election results start to roll in on Oct. 21 after polls have closed, it will take time to determine the official results.

“It depends on how many councillors we have, on the nomination, and on the vote. If everyone is acclaimed, there won’t be an election date. But after the election is over, we have to count all the ballots. We’re also doing the school divisions — the public and the separate — so it will be a good couple of hours before we know the exact results of the election,” said Lukacs.

Lukacs reported a new voting feature for 2013 should help allow individuals with limited mobility cast a ballot in the municipal election.

“This year we’re also actually offering incapacitated voting at home, so any people that are unable to make it down to the community centre for voting, we have two people that can come to their home so that they are able to vote.”

She encourages all residents of the community of voting age to get out on Oct. 21 and help determine the direction of Taber for the next four years.

“I just hope all of the residents of Taber come out to vote. It’s going to be a fun day.”