Council Approves Election Bylaw Updates
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Council adopted an updated Election Bylaw on October 8, 2024. The updates result in a number of changes to the County’s election processes, as well as aligns the Election Bylaw with recent changes to the Local Authorities Election Act made by the provincial government.
The updated bylaw is effective as of October 31, 2024 to correspond with the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. Some of the key updates to the County Election Bylaw include:
- Permanent Electors Register: The Local Authorities Election Act now requires municipalities to use permanent elector registers to verify whether voters are eligible to vote in municipal elections. The County will work with Elections Alberta to prepare the permanent electors register for the 2025 municipal election. All voters must be included in the permanent elector register in order to receive a ballot.
- Special Ballots: Municipalities are required to offer special ballots (mail-in ballots) to voters who are unable to vote on election day or during advance votes. The County offered special ballots for the first time in the 2021 municipal election.
- Criminal Record Checks: All candidates for the County’s 2025 Municipal Election will be required to include a criminal record check with their nomination papers in order to run for office. The nomination papers and criminal record checks of all candidates will be available on the County’s website starting with the opening of nominations on January 1, 2025.
- Conduct of Scrutineers: The updated Election Bylaw includes additional guidance on what scrutineers can and cannot do when they are in voting stations. This will provide election workers and scrutineers with clear guidelines on what is allowed in voting stations.
Council also made amendments to the Election Sign Bylaw on July 9, 2024 which will be in effect for the 2025 Municipal Election. The amendments to the Election Sign Bylaw add new requirements for election signs and revise the setback distances from construction sites, fire hydrants, traffic control devices, and approaches from highways.
If you have any questions or concerns with the updates to either of these bylaws, please contact Legislative Services at legislativeservices@rockyview.ca or (403) 230-1401.
Visit Elections to learn more.
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