With the next municipal election coming up on Nov. 15 of this year, it’s time for residents to start thinking about candidates and the process.
It’s up to each citizen to ensure they are informed and know where to go and make sure they are properly registered.
Keep in mind that this year, those voted in for the positions of mayor, council (six) and school trustees will serve four-year terms.
Citizens are eligible to vote in a local election as a resident elector when: they are 18 years of age or older; are a Canadian citizen; have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months before registering to vote; have lived in the jurisdiction where you intend to vote for at least 30 days before you register to vote; and, are not disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, or by law from voting in a local election.
You are eligible as a non-resident property elector if you complete those other requirements and are the registered property owner in the jurisdiction where you intend to vote for at least 30 days before you register to vote.
You are not eligible if you have: been convicted of an indictable offence and are in custody; or, have been found guilty of an election offence; or, do not otherwise meet voter eligibility requirements.
Persons who are not listed in the city voter’s poll book and are an eligible voter for the city would complete the proper form(s) for their particular situation, said Diane Heinrich, city corporate officer. The forms are available directly from the city’s website or from the City Hall administrative office at 6641 Industrial Parkway.
She adds that the deadline for advanced elector registration is Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.
Advanced voting takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 5 and Wednesday, Nov. 12, both at the RDKB board office.
General voting day will take place at Perley Elementary School on Saturday, Nov. 15. There will also be special stations set up at Phoenix Manor Retirement Home, Boundary Lodge Assisted Living, Boundary Hospital and Hardy View Lodge, and Silver Kettle Village for those residents, patients and staff working that day.
There are no mail-in ballots.
Automatic voting machines will be used for general voting day and for the advanced voting opportunities, said Heinrich. “A standard ballot box will be used for the special opportunity sites and then the ballots will be fed into the voting machines on general voting day and recorded.
There will also be a non-binding question on the ballot asking if people support a deer cull or not.
RDKB ballots will be tallied separately from the City’s.
Candidates
Anyone who is interested in running for city council needs to pick up a nomination package at City Hall’s administrative office. Nomination forms will be accepted by the city from 9 a.m. Sept. 30 until 4 p.m. on Oct. 10.
To run for office, a candidate must be 18 years old or older on voting day; must be a Canadian citizen; must be a resident of B.C. for a least six months prior to the date of nomination; and not disqualified by any statute or law, from being nominated, elected or holding office.
Nominees must be nominated by two resident electors of the City of Grand Forks. Nominees are not required to be residents or non-resident property owners in the City of Grand Forks.
For more information, visit grandforks.ca/2014-local-government-elections//