By Angela Brown

Métis Nation elections coming up next week

May 19, 2017 | 4:23 PM

Métis Nation Saskatchewan (MN-S) is encouraging a good turnout from the Battlefords area for the election coming up May 27.

“It’s how you have voice,” Loretta Metzger, the MN-S new chief electoral officer said. “If you want to have a say in the direction that the Métis Nation takes in the future, you have to get out and vote.”

For the local Battlefords area, eligible voters will participate in the elections for Western Region 1A.

Voters must be over 16 years of age to take part in the Métis election. They also need to show identification with their name and address, and complete a declaration of Métis status.

The last time a provincial election was held was in 2012.

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The election was originally planned to take place in early February but was delayed when the prior chief electoral officer became ill. Organizers then had to postpone the date of the election to May 27.

Candidates in the election are running for the following positions: president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, as well as for 12 regional representative positions.

Metzger added participants can vote only once, must vote only in the region where they live, and must keep their vote secret.

“There is a large slate of candidates and people are really interested in getting out and voting,” Metzger said. “That is why we are seeing the larger turnout.

“In North Battleford you have already had more voters at the Returning Office than you did in the entire region in the last election. I think that’s pretty significant.”

Metzger added there are a total of 46 candidates running through the whole province and in this region (Western Region 1A), 21 candidates are running for four executive positions and two for the regional representatives.

Western Region 1A covers a large area including the Battlefords to the Alberta border, including Lloydminster, Unity and Wilkie, among the many communities represented.

“We will be releasing some unofficial results on May 27,” Metzger said.

All results will be posted online at: mnselection.ca

“The votes will be verified in each of the returning offices and within five days you will get an official result,” she added.

For Western Region 1A, people can vote at the following upcoming polls:  

On election day, May 27, voting takes place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Battlefords at Alex Dillabough Centre meeting room A, at 432-27 St. in the town of Battleford, and at North Battleford Senior Citizens Action Now Club Inc., 1501-101 St in North Battleford. Voting will also be held in neighbouring Lloydminster at Royal Canadian Legion #39, at 4505-49 Ave. (Senior Hall).

To vote in advance, on Saturday, May 20, polls are open in Lloydminster at Royal Canadian Legion  #39, at 4505-49 Ave. (Senior Hall) from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and at mobile polls in Frenchman Butte at the Senior Hall on Main St. and in Wilkie at New Horizon Senior Centre at 214-1st St. E., both from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW