Residents of North Battleford are reminded they will need proper identification to be able to vote in the 2014 municipal byelection.
According to City Clerk Debbie Wohlberg, who is also returning officer for the byelection, voter registration requirements changed in 2012.
In a news release Monday, Wohlberg stated all voters must provide identification as proof of identity and residency in order to be eligible to vote.
Photo identification is noted as being the best option. Those include presenting a valid driver's license with photo ID, a valid ID card issued by SGI or another insurer, or any other valid government photo ID issued by a federal, provincial or municipal government that states the holder's name and address.
Those who do not have photo ID can present two pieces of identification so long as they contain a name and address. Those could include valid government ID, personal correspondence, benefit/contribution statements, bank or credit union cards, tax assessment notices, utility notices and credit card statements. The full list of ID options can be found on the City's election page www.cityofnb.ca.
The city also reminds voters that the lower auditorium of the Civic Centre will be the only polling place April 16. Polls will be open that day from 9 am to 8 pm.
For those seeking to vote in advance of that date, the advance poll will be set up at North Battleford Public Library on Tuesday, April 8 from 5 until 8 p.m. and Wednesday, April 9 from 5 until 9 p.m.
Also, a mobile poll is being offered to accommodate anyone in personal care facilities and the hospital. That will be provided on byelection day, but voters seeking to vote in the mobile poll must apply by April 9 to be able to vote using that method.
The byelection will fill one vacant council position in North Battleford. Nominations closed March 12 and became official on March 13. The three candidates who are confirmed to be on the council ballot are Ron Crush, Kelli Saemann, and Thomas Schwab.
The City is running candidate biographies on the election page of their website.
As well, an invitation has been extended to all three candidates to participate in the election profile page that will run in the Regional Optimist in the April 10 edition.
