DIDSBURY — Town council passed during its May 25 meeting a number of motions in preparation for the Oct. 18 municipal election.
One motion scheduled the advanced polls for Wednesday and Thursday Oct. 6-7 from noon to 8 p.m. both days at the Town of Didsbury council chambers, located at 1606 - 14th Street.
The provincial Local Authorities Election Act states that towns with populations numbering more than 5,000 residents must hold advanced votes on the election of municipal councillors, including byelections, as well as submissions of a bylaw or questions to electors.
A second motion set the dates for the 2021 municipal election elector assistance at home vote for residents who are unable to cast their ballots on election day.
Those votes will be held Oct. 6-7 by appointment only, with a deadline to book appointments set for Tuesday, Oct. 5.
The Local Authorities Election Act also states that an “elected authority may by resolution provide for the attendance of two deputies at the residence of an elector, during the hours an advance voting station is open or other times as may be fixed by the resolution, in order to take the votes of electors who, because of physical disability, are unable to attend a voting station or an advanced voting station to vote.”
Because the upcoming municipal election is expected to see the use of voting machines, administration recommended the election assistance at-home vote be conducted on the same days as the advanced polls.
Council set the times and locations for the institutional polls for local electors who are confined to treatment centres or are residents of a supportive living facility.
Those votes will be held Oct. 18 at the Didsbury hospital from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Aspen Ridge Lodge from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., and at the Bethany Care facility from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Council also approved the wording for two questions to go on Oct. 18 ballot.
One question asks: “Do you support an increase to municipal taxes for the Town of Didsbury to proceed with train whistle cessation?”
The second question asks: “Do you support an increase to municipal taxes for the Town of Didsbury to increase the improvements to the roads?”
