Edmonton Elections promises safe experience for voters in October
The first municipal election in Edmonton since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is nearly a month away and the city is laying out their plan to provide a safe experience to voters.
The number of available polls people will be able to cast their vote at has increased from 189 during the 2017 election to 212 this year. The polling stations themselves will also be larger than in 2017 to accommodate for physical distancing.
In keeping with provincial health measures and city bylaws, masking will be required inside polling stations. Edmontonians can also expect to see additional sanitation measures and plexiglass dividers at the polls.
Additionally election workers will have to complete a pre-screening test for COVID-19 prior to their shift.
The city is also planning to launch an online tool prior to the election that will provide information on how long the wait times are at the polls so Edmontonians can plan to vote during hours with less demand.
Aileen Giesbrecht, the city clerk and returning officer for Edmonton Elections, explained the attention to safety at the polls this year.
“The Edmonton Elections team is prepared to deliver a safe election. The safety of voters and workers is one of our top priorities and we’re implementing safety measures to ensure everybody who visits a voting station feels safe.”
ADVANCED VOTING
The number of advanced voting polls for the municipal election has doubled from six in 2017 to twelve this year.
The early polls will be open from Oct. 4 to 13 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day, including Thanksgiving Day.
Advance stations will also offer an electronic ballot marker with will allow people with visual or physical disabilities to view and mark their ballots independently.
There is also a hearing loop system for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
ELECTION DAY
Election day in Edmonton is October 18. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Eligible voters can find their polling station for both advanced voting and for Election Day at Edmonton.ca/wheretovote
Voters will be filling out two ballots at the polls this year, the first being the usual municipal ballot which includes options for mayor, councillor and school trustee.
The second will be a provincial ballot which will include names for Alberta’s senate nominee, as well as two referendum questions on whether:
- to remove the principle of equalization payments from Canada’s constitution
- Alberta should remain on Daylight Saving Time (summer hours) year-round
DEADLINE FOR CANDIDACY
Aspiring candidates for mayor or city council still have time to put their name forward for consideration. Those wishing to be put on the ballet have until noon on Sept. 20 to submit their nomination paperwork and deposit.
The deadline to withdraw from candidacy is at noon on Sept. 21.
People with further questions about the nomination process can visit Edmonton.ca/forcandidates or call 3-1-1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.