(File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

In The Chambers

City planning for municipal election in the fall

Jun 24, 2020 | 6:02 PM

The City of North Battleford will use an automated vote counting system for the upcoming municipal election in the city in the fall.

Mayor Ryan Bater said this will make the process more efficient.

“This is just an electronic counting machine,” he said. “The ballots are still by-hand. They will be counted electronically as opposed to being counted by volunteers.”

The mayor said the electronic process will also be helpful because the city had concerns whether there would be enough volunteers available for recruiting, since many would likely have already committed their time for the provincial election being held only two weeks prior.

This is the first time the municipality has used this type of vote counting system at a city election.

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The municipal election date has been set for Monday, Nov. 9.

One polling station for North Battleford

The city will have only one polling station for people to cast their votes on election day for the municipal election.

The city decided to use the Civic Centre as the location this year.

The city clerk, Debbie Wohlberg, who will act as the Returning Officer, said this is one of the bigger changes for the election process.

The city decided to have the voting at this one station rather than at several different stations as a precaution to ensure public safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since the space is large and social distancing can be implemented.

People can enter at one entrance, register, then submit their ballot, and leave through the other entrance at the facility.

Wohlberg said while it is not known what COVID-19 restrictions by the province may be in place in November it is still important to have a plan established.

Mail-in ballots will be available for voting for people who register in advance as an option.

The public can also vote via a mobile poll as an alternative if they apply in advance, for those who cannot leave their homes to vote. The city will be able to go to them with a ballot they can complete. They will need to register in advance by Oct. 26 for this option.

Advance polls will also be available.

As well, polling will be available at hospitals and personal care facilities to accommodate residents who wish to vote.

For those seeking election, the public disclosure statements must accompany their nomination papers, which is new this year. Previously these statements were not required to be submitted until after the candidate had won his or her seat at council. This requirement is due to a change in the legislation.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW