ELECTION 2021
This year is an election year for local authorities in the Province of Alberta. This election cycle will include both the General Municipal Elections and recently established Senate Elections/Referendum Vote. As a summer village, the Local Authorities Election Act allows that the Summer Village of Nakamun Park hold its municipal election in the summer (a June or July nomination day with any required election four weeks after). The Senate Election process follows a different timeline and more details will be shared with residents closer to the prescribed October 18th, 2021 poll date.
This webpage has been established by the municipality to share important dates and reference materials regarding the election process. At this time, the information will focus on the Municipal (Council) Elections. If you are a resident or eligible to vote, or considering becoming a candidate for the 2021 Municipal Election, please take a moment to review the following:
Key Election Dates:
Nomination Day has been established as Saturday July 3rd, 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Nomination Day will be held at the Summer Village Public Works Shop (5563A Nakamun Drive) and this is the time provided for potential candidates to formally submit their nomination papers and candidate acceptance forms. If more than three candidates are nominated an election will be required. Because the form requires several items – including signatures from at least five eligible electors – we encourage prospective nominees to get their papers well in advance of the established Nomination Day so there are ready to be submitted during the time provided.
Election Day has been established as Saturday July 31st, 2021 from 10:00 am through 7:00 pm. Election Day will be held at the Summer Village Public Works Shop (5563A Nakamun Drive) and this is the time for the electorate to cast their ballots in person. Following the close of polls on Election Day a tally of all received votes will be counted and results made available in due course.
Advance Vote options will be different than in past years. With the lingering impact of COVID-19, Council has authorized the use of Special Ballots (Mail-In Ballots) for anyone interested in voting but who may not be able to attend Election Day, or who may be leery about attending a public poll under current health measures. There is to be an extremely strict process for requesting, completely and submitting a Special Ballot (more information below). There will be no advance poll (in person) for the 2021 Municipal Election.
Key Personnel:
Council is required to appoint a Returning Officer and a Substitute Returning Officer to oversee the election process and reporting. The Returning Officer then appoints deputies and arranges auxiliary staff as needed. The Returning Officer is available to answer any questions or to provide forms and reference material to candidates, candidate advocates and the general electorate.
For the 2021 Municipal Election, the Summer Village of Nakamun Park will have the following Returning Officer and Substitute Returning Officer/First Deputy Returning Officer:
Returning Officer – Dwight Moskalyk – 780-967-0271
Substitute Returning Officer – Diane Wannamaker – 780-967-0271
Election Staff will be available by appointment at the main municipal office (4808-51st Onoway, AB) during the election process. Please call to discuss election related questions, or to arrange an appointment.
Information for Candidates and the Electorate:
In order to provide consistent and up-to-date reference material for anyone considering their candidacy or participation in the 2021 Municipal Election, the Government of Alberta has complied a collection of information on their website:
https://www.alberta.ca/municipal-elections-overview.aspx
Of particular interest is “A Candidate’s Guide: A Handbook for Running For Municipal Office In Alberta” (link below). This provides an excellent introductory summary to the steps and considerations of running for public office. Additional information on council and councillor roles and responsibilities and pecuniary interests is also well worth the read.
https://open.alberta.ca/publications/candidates-guide-running-for-municipal-office-in-alberta
Forms:
Along with the general reference material include on the government resource page, potential candidates will need to be aware of several forms they would need to fill out to be nominated, registered as a candidate and ensure the financial (campaign finance) reporting requirements are met, along other obligations. These forms can be found at:
https://www.alberta.ca/municipal-election-forms.aspx
Of particular note at this time (Pre-Nomination Period) are those forms required to be completed prior to, and submitted on, Nomination Day. These forms are collectively referred to as the Candidate’s Nomination Package and include the following:
Using a Special Ballot:
The municipality anticipates the use of Special Ballots for the 2021 election to be well subscribed, especially if public health measure remain in place. As such, it is extremely important that all stakeholders (Election Staff and Electors) are fully aware of how the Special Ballot process is going to work so that everyone who wants to cast a ballot has their vote counted. Making this a success is going to take some timely cooperation – and election staff are here to help as best we can.
Because there is a short turnaround time between when the municipality can print ballots (after Nomination Day) and when these ballots must be returned to (physically received by) Election Staff (July 30th, 2021), the following process has been established to promote timely transfer of Special Ballots:
Monday May 3rd, 2021 9:00 am – First Day a Special Ballot Package may be Requested.
Monday July 5th, 2021 4:00 pm – Initial Issuing of Requested Special Ballots to be Available.
Election Staff will send a Special Ballot Package by mail, or hold for pick-up in the office, as per the Elector’s direction indicated on the submitted Request Form.
Note: The Special Ballot Package will include several items, including instructions on how to complete and return the completed ballot.
Monday July 5th, 2021 – Monday July 19th, 2021 – Special Ballot Issuing will Occur.
During this period Special Ballot Requests will be processed and mailout out for all completed requests received prior to the request deadline (noted below).
Friday July 16th, 2021 4:00 pm – Last Day that a Special Ballot Package Can Be Requested.
After this deadline, no further Special Ballot Packages may be requested and anyone wishing to vote will need to attend in person at on Election Day.
Friday July 30th, 2021 4:00 pm – Last Day to Return Special Ballots
Once completed by the Elector, the Special Ballot can be returned to the Returning Officer by mail or in person to the municipal office. The Special Ballot MUST BE received by the Elections Staff before this deadline; all Special Ballots received later than this date must be considered rejected.
If you plan on returning your special ballot by mail, please ensure you have mailed it with sufficient time for it to be received by the deadline – if it is received late, regardless of postmark, it must be considered rejected and will not be counted; if you are concerned with timing please consider making arrangements to have the ballot dropped off at the office prior to the deadline.
Saturday July 31st, 2021 7:00pm – Election Day Ballot Count
Following the close of polls on Election Day, Election Staff will begin counting all ballots – including the Special Ballots. After being received by the Election Staff, Special Ballots will be processed such that the outer (mailing) envelope will be opened, and the inner (secure) ballot envelope will be placed in a Special Ballot Vote Box and kept secure by the Returning Officer.
During the Election Day count this ballot box will be opened and the anonymous inner envelopes will now be opened, and the votes counted as normal. This method allows for secure accounting of all Special Ballots issued/received but also allows the Electorate to maintain their right to a secret vote – even in a remote voting situation.