The electoral machinery in Warman and Martensville is getting a final tune-up in preparation for the municipal election November 9.
“It will be a little different this year in a lot of ways,” said Martensville City Clerk Carla Budnick, who has the responsibility of serving as Martensville’s Chief Returning Officer for the upcoming election.
“Hopefully people aren’t too confused by the municipal and provincial elections being held so close together.”
The provincial election is slated for October 26, two weeks prior to the municipal election.
Warman City Clerk Dawn Johnson, who serves as Chief Returning Officer for Warman, said the other complicating factor is the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to vote, and also that everyone is safe throughout the whole process,” said Johnson. “We’re offering a variety of options so everyone who wants to vote, can vote.”
Both cities are offering mail-in voting as well as in-person voting at advance polls and on election day. Full information on the civic elections is available online at the cities’ websites.
In order to be eligible to vote, people must be a resident or property-owner in the community for at least three months prior to the election. They must also be a Canadian citizen and 18 years old. Voters must also show photo identification (a driver’s license is preferred) or two forms of identification including a street address.
Both Martensville and Warman are encouraging the use of mail-in ballots for those who are reluctant or unable to vote in person.
“We have a very secure system,” said Budnick. “There are multiple envelopes, and the ballot is kept in a separate envelope that goes directly into the ballot box unopened. It’s only opened on election night and counted with the rest of the ballots.”
Johnson said voters can download an online application for a mail-in ballot from the City of Warman website or pick one up at City Hall. The application must be filled out by the voter, and verified by a witness.
Johnson said there are checks and balances to ensure electoral fraud doesn’t occur. She noted the legislation provides for fines of up to $5,000 for anyone found guilty of fraudulent voting.
Budnick said Martensville has set up three advanced polling days: Wednesday, October 28, Saturday, October 31 and Wednesday, November 4. The advanced polls will be at Martensville City Hall.
Johnson said Warman is also holding advanced polls: Wednesday, October 28, Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4. The advanced polls will be held at the Brian King Centre in Warman.
Safety and health measures including hand-sanitizing, physical distancing and face masks are all being put in place for both the advanced polls and election day polls.
Johnson said the City of Warman is introducing electronic voting for the first time in this election.
“It’s much faster when it comes to tabulating the results of the voting,” said Johnson. “We should have the results within 45 minutes of the polls closing on election day.”
Johnson said the electronic ballots are simple and efficient. Voters fill in a space next to the candidate of their choice; in the case of city councillors voters can vote for up to six candidates. The ballots are then fed into a machine which automatically counts the votes and keeps a running tabulation of the results.
Martensville has opted not to use the electronic ballots.
Election day voting in Warman is slated for the Legends Centre.