The City of Yorkton is beginning the process of readying for this fall’s municipal elections.
General Municipal Elections are legislated to occur every four years, with the next one to be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016. The nomination period will be from Tuesday, September 6, 2016 – 8 a.m. through to Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – 4 p.m., explained Kathy Ritchie, Director of Legislation & Procedures (City Clerk) with the City.
The start of the process is to “establish polling areas and polling places within the municipality by dividing the municipality into as many polling areas as is considered necessary for the convenience of voters, in such a way that all polling areas contain, as nearly as possible, an equal number of voters; each voter may vote at one polling place on all matters on which he or she is entitled to vote; there is at least one polling place situated within or close to each polling area; and a polling place is located, if possible, in a place allowing convenient access to persons who have a disability,” said Ritchie.
According to the Tax Roll for the City, in 2016 there were 7,478 doors, which, when divided out, works out to be 1.94 voters per door.
“In 2012 the City had established three voting areas, and although population numbers have increased I am recommending that the three voting areas remain, however that there be a boundary change in order to meet as close as possible the equal number of voters per area,” said Ritchie.
The three polling areas will be at the Gallagher Centre, Gloria Hayden Community Centre and Yorkdale Central School.
Council also approved that a polling place be established at the Yorkton Regional Hospital, any personal care facility or similar institution that accommodates at least five individuals, that is situated within the City of Yorkton and that agrees to the holding of the poll, with such poll to be held on any of the dates of October 24th, 25th, or 26th; and/or further permit that a voter who is receiving care in such an institution may vote by mail-in ballot.
And, that there be a provision made for homebound voting for voters of the municipality and their resident caregiver who is unable to attend an established polling place to vote, due to a disability or limited mobility as well as for the care required to be provided by the caregiver, in accordance with Section 30(3) of The Local Government Elections Act, 2015, provided that the required application is made no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to election day.
“In accordance with Section 47, the Administrator of the municipality is the returning officer unless a council appoints another person as returning officer at least 90 days before Election Day. In previous elections the City Clerk has been the Returning Officer. The task is becoming more onerous and some of the other Cities have established a contract position for this particular duty and perhaps this is something to be considered during budget deliberations, for the 2020 election. Also, in accordance with Section 46, the Returning Officer of the municipality is the Returning Officer for the school division elections, in the case of the City of Yorkton for both the Public and Separate School Division elections, unless the school boards, 90 days prior to the election appoint someone else to act in that capacity. In brief discussions with the School Board Administrators they are under the impression that the School Boards are satisfied with the services offered by the City’s Returning Officer,” detailed Ritchie.
Council chose not to contract the position, which will be the City Administrator will be the Returning Officer.
“A council may, by bylaw, 60 days prior to an election, establish disclosure requirements respecting campaign contributions and expenses and/or establish election campaign spending limits. This requirement has not been established in previous Municipal Elections in the City of Yorkton,” continued Ritchie.
Council was unanimous in supporting Administration create a bylaw requiring candidate to disclose campaign contributions and expenses.
Ritchie also noted, “Council, may by bylaw, establish a mail-in ballot system for the purpose of receiving ballots in an election. In 2012, council approved such a bylaw, however with the changes in the Act, the use of a Mail-In Ballot has been extended beyond just the voters who anticipate being unable to vote at an advance poll, or on election day. This bylaw as well will be brought back to council at a future meeting for approval, again pending decisions made in earlier questions posed in this report.
Council was unanimous on creating a mail-in ballot voting system.
A section of the Local Government Elections Act, 2015, allows for the council, by bylaw, to require that every candidate submit a criminal record check in addition to the nomination paper submitted, with such bylaw to be made 90 days before the date of a general election. A criminal record check would state, for the name indicated thereon, either that no criminal record exists or that one may or may not exist and that the latter can only be confirmed by finger printing records.
Council also requested such a bylaw be drafted for consideration.
Council did disagree on how names should be listed on the ballot, with Councillor Chris Wyatt making a motion that would have seen arrangement of names in accordance with the order that they are withdrawn from a receptacle.
Coun. Les Arnelien was immediately opposed citing that an alphabetical listing was in keeping with what other levels of government employ.
Wyatt’s motion was defeated three to two, with only he and Coun. Ross Fisher in favour.
A motion that names be listed alphabetically on the ballot then carried three-two, with Wyatt and Fisher opposed.
