The nomination period for the fall municipal elections gets underway soon.
For the civic election in North Battleford, the first day of the nomination period is Thursday, Sept. 1, and runs until nomination day Wednesday, Sept. 21.
That will be the last day in which nomination papers can be filed and those will be accepted at City Hall between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
From Sept. 1 to Sept. 20 nomination papers can be filed during regular office hours at City Hall between 8 a.m. and noon, and again from 1 to 4:30 p.m. each day. The exceptions are Saturdays and Sundays when City Hall will not be open.
Nomination papers are to be submitted to the returning officer or to the nomination officer at the city clerk's office during those dates and times. Any questions can be forwarded to Debbie Wohlberg, returning officer at 306-445-1719.
A candidate’s guide has also been posted at the City of North Battleford’s website and includes further information on nomination papers.
According to that information, nomination papers must state the candidate’s name and address and the office for which they are nominated, the name and address of each nominator, must be signed by at least five voters of the City of North Battleford and contain the candidate’s acceptance of nomination witnessed by two people.
Other requirements for the nomination papers include: only one person can be nominated for election on each nomination paper, a voter may sign the nomination papers of more than one person, candidates cannot nominate themselves, no person can be nominated as both mayor and councilor. No employee of the City is eligible to witness the candidate’s acceptance of nomination.
All nomination papers filed with the returning officer or designate can be inspected by any person at City Hall, where copies will be posted in the public access area. As well, it will be posted on the City website and be provided to anyone requesting a copy.
Nominated candidates wishing to withdraw can do so by filing with the returning officer or designate a written statement to that effect, signed by the nominated person and two witnesses or by the returning officer or designate.
The deadline to withdraw is 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, which is one day after the nomination deadline.
After that time, all names of all nominated candidates go on the ballot. For the Oct. 26 election, the names and occupations of all the nominated candidates will be arranged in alphabetical order by surnames on the ballot for mayor and for councillor.
Candidates are also being encouraged to submit profiles of up to 150 words along with a photograph, which will be posted on the City’s website. Those will be accepted only during the nomination period.
On Oct. 26 polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and polling place locations are set up at Holy Family School 9201 - 19th Ave., the Civic Centre at 1902 - 104th St. and Notre Dame School at 1241 -105th St.
Advance polls will be open Oct. 15 at City Hall between noon and 5 p.m., Oct. 19 between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. and Oct. 22 between noon and 5 p.m. There will also be an advance poll open at Valley View Towers 11, 1191 - 99th St., Oct. 20 between 1 and 5 p.m.
There are also mobile polls for those who are housebound, with the deadline to submit an application for that being 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Special polls are also being established for voters at personal care homes and at the hospital.
For the first time mail-in ballots are being used in the civic election for those who anticipate being absent during the advance poll and election day. Applications to cast a vote by mail-in ballot can be submitted to the returning officer starting Sept. 1 and ending Oct. 25 at 4:30 p.m.
