By now, Albertans have no doubt heard the news that Premier Rachel Notley dropped the writ last week, kicking off the hotly anticipated 2019 provincial election campaign.
Largely expected to be a battle between the UCP and the NDP, the main issues being debated revolve primarily around the carbon tax and economy, as well as health-care and education spending.
Although the official voting day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., a five-day advance poll has also been set for Tuesday, April 9 to Saturday, April 13 during the same hours.
Sundre’s polling station will be at the local Elks Hall, which will be accommodating 11 polling subdivisions in the region, said Jane Henderson, returning officer for the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre riding.
But for the first time in Alberta’s election history, voters will be able to cast a ballot from any other polling station in the province during the advance vote, provided they have either their driver’s licence or voter registration card, she said, adding B.C. and Ontario have already previously used this approach.
“You can vote anywhere in the province. It is all on electronic poll books,” she said, adding that a simple scan of a driver’s licence or voting card will enable people to vote even if they’re away from their home polling station.
“It’s spectacular; a great new thing for Alberta.”
The following seven candidates have announced their intentions to run: UCP incumbent Jason Nixon; Paula Lamoureux, Alberta Advantage Party; Jane Drummond, Green Party of Alberta; Joe Anglin, Alberta Party; Gordon Francy, Independent; David Rogers, Alberta Independence Party; and Jeff Ible, NDP.
However, as of Monday, the only candidates officially listed on the Elections Alberta website were Nixon, Lamoureux and Drummond. The deadline to submit nomination papers is Friday, March 29, said Henderson.
The riding’s election office is now fully staffed and located at the Bighorn Mall in Rocky Mountain House, she said, adding there have been some concerns from people who report not being able to find themselves on the poll book.
“Some people are panicking. But every person we’ve been asked about today is on our poll list,” she said last week.
“We haven’t found anybody that’s been missing.”
However, people who are so inclined to verify they are indeed on the list are welcome to contact the riding’s office at 587-851-0820, she said.
“We’re really happy that we’ve finally got moving on this,” she said about preparing for the election.
See this week's edition of the Mountain View Gazette for more coverage on Alberta's election.
