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By Trevor Busch
Taber Times
tbusch@tabertimes.com
Municipal election speculation is mounting in Alberta with the appointed day just over five months away on Oct. 16.
At their April 10 regular meeting, Taber town council voted unanimously to agree that the election of councillors be by vote of the electors of the whole municipality as has been done in the past, and not by wards; and agreed that the chief elected officer (mayor) shall be selected by vote of the electors as has been done in the past, rather than by appointment from among elected councillors.
Council also resolved that pursuant to Sec. 73 of the Local Authorities Election Act, an advance vote will be held in 2017, with the returning officer to determine the days and hours when the advance vote is to be held.
Pursuant to Sec. 79 of the Local Authorities Election Act, council directed the returning officer to arrange for voting in 2017 by incapacitated electors at home through the attendance of two deputies at the residence of an elector, during the hours the advance voting station is open, in order to take the votes of an elector who because of physical incapability is unable to attend a voting station or an advance voting station to vote.
It was also determined that pursuant to Sec. 80 of the Local Authorities Election Act, institutional voting stations will be established for the 2017 municipal election at the Taber and District Health Care Complex (4326 50th Avenue), Clearview Lodge (4730 50th Avenue), and the Lindenview Care Facility (4700 64th Avenue).
According to administration, the costs associated with conducting the 2017 municipal election have been “considered” in the approved 2017 operating budget.
Council has already approved (Feb. 13) the appointment of a returning officer for the municipality, Jeanne Rudolf of C. Rudolf Oilfield Consulting Ltd., who will be responsible for ensuring the conduct of the election.
According to the Government of Alberta’s Municipal Election Calendar, prospective candidate packages should be available by May 8.
Important Election Dates 2017
July 1: Earliest date that municipal employees wishing to be nominated as an election candidate, may notify their employer that they are taking a leave of absence
Sept. 18: Nomination day (hours, deposits, acclamations)
Sept. 19: Deadline to withdraw 12 noon
Sept. 20: Election day and advance vote voting station locations confirmed
Oct. 16: Election day (unofficial results posted on the Election database following completion of the count on election night)
Oct. 18: Deadline to request returning officer perform a recount (4 p.m.)
Oct. 20: Official results (12 noon).
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