Drive-through voting coming to a polling station in Lethbridge this fall
The city of Lethbridge will be introducing a number of new initiatives, including drive-through voting, in an effort to increase voter turnout in the October municipal election.
“This is a very important vote,” said Lethbridge returning officer Bonnie Hilford.
“These people that they will be electing will be in office for the next four years, and making some very big and very important decisions in the community on the citizen’s behalf.”
The municipal general election will be held October 18, 2021, with Albertans choosing their mayors, municipal councillors and school board representatives.
Hilford said the provincial government may also be adding senate or referendum questions to the ballot, “So it’s important to me in my role as returning officer to coordinate this election so that citizens of the community have the information and the ability to vote.”
AMENDING ELECTION OPERATIONS
With that goal in mind, Lethbridge and Red Deer are amending their election operations to implement a number of initiatives to make voting easier and provide more information to the voting public.
Lethbridge voters
It will be the first time these steps will be tried anywhere in Alberta, with the aim of improving the dismal turnout for municipal elections.
Hilford said on average, the turnout has been around 31 per cent for the five previous municipal elections. In 2017, the turnout was only 27 per cent.
“So that is generally pretty low,” added Hilford.
MORE VOTING OPTIONS
This October the city will provide more options for voting, with a focus on convenience, flexibility and efficiency.
Instead of requiring people to vote at a specific location, eligible voters will be able to cast their ballot at any of the city's 14 voting stations.
“So if you are working across the city, or shopping, you can vote anywhere that is convenient for you,” said Hilford.
That will also apply to anyone voting in the advanced votes, which start October 1.
The city will also be releasing a web tool, so people can monitor lineups and wait times at each of the voting stations.
DRIVE-THROUGH VOTING STATION PLANNED
A drive-through voting station is also planned, likely in the parking lot at Exhibition Park, using three kiosks so people can vote without having to leave their vehicle.
“At the first kiosk they would pick up their registration form and fill it out,” said Hilford.
She said voters would drop off their registration form and pick up their ballot at the second kiosk, and as they drive to the third kiosk they would place their ballot in the tabulator.
Lethbridge city council
The city is also taking steps to make it easier for people to access information about the candidates by adding several new initiatives including:
• An information session for candidates running for mayor or councillor from a panel of retiring members of council, to be recorded and posted to the website in July;
• Information videos from each candidate running for mayor, councillor and school board trustee (public and separate), recorded and posted on the website after the September 20 nominations day deadline;
• An accessible voting station for the blind during the advance vote.
INITIATIVES WELCOME
Councillor Rob Miyashiro is not running for re-election, but he welcomes any initiatives that would encourage more people to vote.
“That’s the way you can really elicit change in the community by electing people that you think are going to move the community ahead,” added Miyashiro.
He maintains if you make it easier for people to vote, you will get a better turnout, adding that could potentially change the way council looks, and maybe even change the outcome in the mayoral, and school board races.
“People need to understand that the decision they make not to vote can really affect how the city runs,” said Miyashiro.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.