The rules have changed for municipal elections in Alberta.
On election day, Monday, October 21, voters will now be required to show valid identification or proof of residency to vote.
Voters are now required to bring one piece of valid identification or a document containing both a name and address in order to vote. The new requirement could slow voting down, so residents are being asked to ensure their identification is ready and visible when waiting in line on election day.
“People need either their operator’s or driver’s licence, a government issued identification card, or, if they don’t have those, people can bring in something like their water bill or something that has their name and address on it,” said Byron Nagazina, returning officer for the Town of Drumheller. “Basically people just need something with their name and address on it.”
In essence, a driver’s license or photo identification card for non-drivers will be sufficient to vote. If those are lacking bank or credit card statements, correspondence issued by school, government cheque or cheque stub, income or property tax assessment, insurance policy card, letter from a public curator, guardian, or trustee, attestation of residence from a shelter or soup kitchen, pension plan, prescription bottle insert, residential lease or mortgage statement, statement of government benefits, utility bill, or vehicle ownership or insurance certificate can also be used to prove residency.
Voters need only bring one piece of identification.
The new requirements were passed in the Fall 2012 sitting of the Alberta Legislature.
In addition, to vote, resident’s must be a Canadian citizen and be over 18.
Officials are asking voters to have their identification handy when in line to vote.
“It’ll slow the process down a little, but if people have the paperwork ready to go, it won’t take long,” said Nagazina.
On October 21, voting stations will be set up at Midland Community Hall, Nacmine Community Hall, Newcastle Community Hall, Badlands Community Facility, Church of the Nazarene, Rosedale Community Hall, and East Coulee Community Hall.
An advanced polling station will be at the Badlands Community Facility on Friday, October 18.
This election, Drumheller voters will have ten candidates to choose from to fill the town’s six council seats. Voters will be asked to list their six preferred candidates. However, not all six spaces have to be filled, for example voters can only list four candidates if they wish.
For more information on voting requirements, visit www.dinosaurvalley.com
