A candidate in the Rockyford municipal election is challenging the results in court after it appears an ineligible voter cast a ballot.
April Geeraert ran in the 2021 Municipal Election in the Village of Rockyford and was an incumbent. When the votes were tallied, she and fellow candidate Kathleen Morin were tied.
“It went down to the draw of the hat and the other lady won, and then I found out the next day there was an ineligible voter,” explains Geerhaert.
She said she learned a voter who resided in the county cast a ballot in the Wheatland election and then the Rockyford election.
“The problem is when it happened they just let him vote, but because ballots are anonymous they couldn’t just go back and figure which one was his,” said Geerhaert.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
She said when she learned about the incident, she went to the village and learned there was no apparent remedy.
“They called Municipal Affairs and he said there was nothing the Village itself could do anymore,” she said.
She also contacted Municipal Affairs herself and Elections Alberta and was told there was nothing they could do.
She has since retained a lawyer.
“Now I have to pay money out of my pocket to challenge an election that was not done right,” she said. “If you want to challenge an election, be prepared to spend all your money.”
She served the Village papers and has a court appearance this Thursday, December 9.
The remedy sought is an order a new election in the Village of Rockyford be held in compliance with the provision of the Local Authorities Election Act.
Mayor of Rockyford Darcy Burke is aware of the pending action and says because it is in front of the court and will be a hearing, he is not willing to comment.
