Election
2021 Municipal Election
Election Day is Monday, October 18th, 2021.
Interested in running for office or working the election?
Contact us at: elections@fortsask.ca or 780-992-6200
Candidates |
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Candidates will be listed below as nominations are received.
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Voting |
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Voting StationsVoting stations open at 9:00 a.m. and will remain open until 8:00 p.m. When the voting station is declared closed at 8:00 p.m., any Elector in the voting station who wishes to vote shall be permitted to do so, but no other person shall be allowed to enter the voting station. Voting Station LocationsFor the purpose of a municipal election the City typically has multiple Voting Stations. Each Voting Station shall serve a specific portion of the City. A map of the Voting Station locations will be included in this Package once they have been confirmed. Institutional Voting StationsDates, times, and locations for Institutional Voting Stations have yet to be determined. Elector EligibilityA person is eligible to vote in the municipal election if the person:
Every person who arrives at a voting station for the purpose of voting shall verify their eligibility to vote by completing a Voting Register. Once the Voting Register is completed, the Elector will then be given a ballot. Elector identification will be required for the municipal election. The identification requirement sets a uniform standard of one piece of picture identification or one piece of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer under the Election Act. Elector Identification Eligibility RequirementsThe LAEA establishes the requirements for verification of an Elector’s identity and current residence, as stated in the signed Voting Register. The Elector must produce one piece of photo identification with their name and address, issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial, local, or an agency thereof), or one piece of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer under the Election Act, including the Elector’s name and address. Any of the following documents that include the Elector’s name and address on it will be accepted as valid proof:
Special BallotsThe City will be providing special ballots, which gives Electors who are physically incapable or absent from the jurisdiction, the option to mail in or drop off their ballot. Special ballots provide another avenue for Electors to exercise their right in the democratic process. To vote using a special ballot, Electors who meet the criteria may apply to the Returning Officer. Requests may be made once Council authorizes the use of special ballots. Electors can request a special ballot anytime before the election – up to and including 4:30 p.m. on Election Day. Requests for Special Ballots are logged and once ballots are available, the packages are mailed out or picked up by the Elector. NOTE: It is the Elector’s responsibility to return the ballot by 4:30 p.m. on Election Day. In order to apply for a special ballot, an Elector must meet specific criteria, including but not limited to, being unable to vote at an advance vote or at the voting station on Election Day because of:
A request for a special ballot may be made by any one of the following methods:
A Candidate may request a list of the names and addresses of those Electors who have applied and been provided with special ballots. |
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Information for Candidates |
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A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ELECTION PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES FOR CANDIDATES CAN BE FOUND IN THE CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACKAGE. Download the Candidate Information Package COVID-19 Campaigning & Canvassing Guidelines Candidates are responsible to ensure they are in compliance with the Local Authorities Election Act. Qualification of a CandidateSection 21 of the LAEA outlines qualifications of a Candidate. Eligibility requirements for a person to be nominated as a Candidate on Nomination Day (from January 1, 2021 to noon on September 20, 2021) include:
The Nomination Paper and Candidate Acceptance (Form 4) must be completed and requires the Candidate to sign an affidavit confirming:
The Candidate must swear or affirm the affidavit before the Returning Officer or a Commissioner for Oaths and return the form to the Returning Officer. The nominated Candidate is responsible for ensuring that the nomination paper filed is fully completed and meets the requirements of the LAEA. If a nomination is challenged, the courts will assess eligibility. In accordance with Section 151 of the LAEA it is an offence for a Candidate to sign a Candidate’s Acceptance Form that contains a false statement, which is subject to a fine of up to $1,000. Ineligibility for Nomination as a CandidateSections 22 and 23 of the LAEA provide an overview of instances when a person is ineligible to be nominated as a Candidate in a municipal election. Some of those instances include when:
As this information does not detail all instances of ineligibility, Candidates are responsible for consulting the LAEA. It is the Candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are eligible for nomination. NominationsNomination DayNomination Day for the offices of Mayor, Councillor, Public School Trustee and Catholic School Trustee is Monday, September 20, 2021. The Candidate may file their nomination papers any time between January 1, 2021 until 12:00 noon on September 20, 2021. Nomination FormEvery nomination of a Candidate shall be completed through the submission of a Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance. Each nomination form must be fully completed, and include the signatures of at least 5 eligible Electors. To ensure validity of nominations, a Candidate may submit more than the required 5 Electors’ signatures. If a nomination is not signed by at least 5 Electors, the Returning Officer cannot accept the form. The City does not collect a deposit to file nomination papers. Download the Candidate Nomination Package Filing of Nomination PapersNominations for the offices of Mayor and Councillor will be accepted by appointment with the the Returning Officer beginning on January 1, 2021 until 12:00 noon on September 20, 2021. Nomination forms are to be filed with Legislative Services by appointment at City Hall located at 10005 – 102 Street, Fort Saskatchewan. Alternatively, completed nomination forms may be mailed or couriered to City Hall, attention to the Returning Officer. The Returning Officer is unable to accept nominations before January 1, 2021 or after 12:00 noon on Nomination Day. Facsimiles and electronically submitted copies will not be accepted. After 12:00 noon on Nomination Day, any person may make a request to examine the filed nomination papers by contacting the Returning Officer to make arrangements. School Trustee nomination forms are not accepted by the City of Fort Saskatchewan. They must be delivered to the appropriate School Board Returning Officer. The Candidate is responsible for ensuring that the nomination filed meets the requirements of the LAEA. Withdrawal of Nomination PapersWithin 24 hours of the close of Nomination Day at 12:00 noon on September 20, 2021, a Candidate may withdraw their nomination, provided that more than 1 Candidate for Mayor or 6 Candidates for Councillors have been nominated. The Returning Officer is unable to accept a withdrawal if it would result in less than the required number of Candidates for that office. If a Candidate wishes to withdraw their nomination papers, a written notice must be provided to the Returning Officer no later than 12:00 noon, September 21, 2021. Election by AcclamationIf at the close of Nomination Day at 12:00 noon on September 20, 2021, the number of Candidates nominated for any office is the same as the number required to be elected, the Returning Officer shall declare the Candidates to be acclaimed to the offices for which they were nominated. MORE DETAILS FOR CANDIDATES CAN BE FOUND IN THE CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACKAGE. |
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Results |
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Unofficial Election ResultsFollowing the close of Voting Stations at 8:00 p.m., unofficial election results will be available for the convenience of Candidates and the public through the following sources:
These sources will be updated throughout the evening as results are received from the Voting Stations. As it is difficult to determine when the unofficial election results will be available, your patience is appreciated while election staff work towards providing timely and accurate results. Official Election ResultsAt noon on Friday, October 22, 2021, the Returning Officer will post the official election results at City Hall and on the City’s website. RecountsRecounts before Official ResultsIf required, recounts called immediately after Election Day must be completed before the posting of the official election results. Therefore, recounts must be completed before noon on Friday, October 22, 2021. Returning Officer RecountOn the Tuesday following Election Day, the Returning Officer will examine the results from every Voting Station in conjunction with the unofficial results. A recount may be conducted if the Returning Officer believes there has been an administrative or technical error made. Candidate or Agent Recount RequestA Candidate, Official Agent or Scrutineer may request a recount by submitting a notice to the Returning Officer within 44 hours (4:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 20, 2021) of the close of Voting Stations. The notice must show grounds, which the Returning Officer considers reasonable to allege that the results of the count may be inaccurate. Candidate Notification on RecountCandidates who are affected by a recount will receive at least 12 hours’ notice of the recount. Recount ProceduresThe procedure for a recount will be the same as for Election Day. After completion of the recount, the ballot account will be adjusted if necessary. |