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TOWN OF DRUMHELLER
BYLAW NUMBER 13.25
DEPARTMENT: LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF DRUMHELLER, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO MODIFY
ELECTIONS HELD UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTION ACT
WITHIN THE TOWN OF DRUMHELLER
WHEREAS the Local Authorities Election Act, R.S.A 2000, c.L-21 prescribes how an election
should be conducted within a local authority;
AND WHEREAS there are specific matters of an election that may be modified at the discretion of
the local authority by either bylaw or resolution, as provided for by the Local Authorities Election
Act;
AND WHEREAS section 7(a) of the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A 2000, c.M.26 allows Council
to pass bylaws respecting the safety, health, and welfare of people and the protection of people
and property;
AND WHEREAS section 180(3) of the Municipal Government Act allows Council to do something
by bylaw if it is required to do something by resolution under any enactment;
AND WHEREAS section 203(1) of the Municipal Government Act authorizes Council to delegate
to the Chief Administrative Officer any of its powers, duties, or functions under any enactment,
which includes authority granted by the Local Authorities Election Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the Town of Drumheller enacts as follows:
1. SHORT NAME
1.1
This Bylaw shall be cited as the "Election Bylaw."
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1
Except as where otherwise provided for, the words used in this Bylaw shall have the same
meaning defined or provided for in the Act.
2.2
For the purposes of this Bylaw, the following definitions shall apply:
a)
"Ballot Card" means a paper card, in the from approved by the Returning Officer,
listing the office and associated candidates that are subject to the election and any
bylaw or question to be voted on in the election;
b)
"Chief Administrative Officer" or "CAO" means the person appointed as Chief
Administrative Officer for the Town of Drumheller, or their designate;
c)
"Council " means the Mayor and Councillors of the Town of Drumheller;
d)
"Election Signage Bylaw" means the Election Signage Bylaw #13.21, as amended
from time to time, and its successor legislation;
Town of Drumheller
Bylaw 13.25
Page 2 of 5
e)
"Local Authorities Election Act" or "Act" means the Local Authorities Election Act,
R.S.A 2000, c.L-21, as amended from time to time, and its successor legislation;
f)
"Municipal Government Act" or "MGA" means the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A.
2000 M-26, as amended from time to time, and its successor legislation;
g)
"Town of Drumheller" or "Town" means the Town of Drumheller, a municipal
corporation in the Province of Alberta, and includes the area contained within the
corporate boundaries of the Town of Drumheller, as the context may require.
3. PURPOSE
3.1
The purpose of this Bylaw is to establish rules for elections conducted by the Town under
the Act and specifically for addressing matters within the discretion of elected authorities
under the Act.
3.2
This Bylaw applies to all elections conducted by the Town under the Act, which includes
general elections, by-elections, and votes on a bylaw or question as provided for in the Act.
4. JOINT ELECTIONS
4.1
The Chief Administrative Officer shall be responsible for the negotiation and executing
agreements on behalf of the Town for the conducting of joint elections with other elected
authorities, as required, pursuant to Section 3 of the Act.
5. RETURNING OFFICER (RO) AND SUBSTITUTE RETURNING OFFICER (SRO)
5.1
Council shall be responsible for the appointment of the Returning Officer (RO) and the
Substitute Returning Officer (SRO) as required pursuant to Section 13 of the Act.
6. NOMINATION PAPERS
6.1
The Returning Officer shall receive nominations for candidates for the Town of Drumheller
municipal elections at the Municipal Office located at 224 Centre Street, Drumheller,
Alberta, T0J 0Y4.
7. VOTING HOURS
7.1
Every Voting Station shall be kept open continuously on election day from 10:00 AM to 8:00
PM.
8. ADVANCE VOTE
8.1
The Returning Officer shall hold an advance vote for an election and shall establish voting
stations in the amount(s) and location(s) considered necessary for the conducting of the
advance vote.
8.2
The Returning Officer shall determine the date(s) and the time(s) when an advance vote
shall be held.
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Bylaw 13.25
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9. INSTITUTIONAL VOTE
9.1
The Returning Officer shall establish Institutional Voting Stations for an election, and they
shall be in the amount(s) and location(s) considered necessary for the conducting of the
institutional vote.
9.2
The Returning Officer shall determine the date(s) and the time(s) when an Institutional Vote
shall be held.
10. SPECIAL BALLOTS
10.1
An elector may, if their name is contained in the Town's electors' register, apply to the
Returning Officer for a special ballot package through any of the following methods:
a)
In writing;
b)
By email;
c)
By telephone; or
d)
In person.
10.2
If the elector's name is not contained in the Town's electors' register, the elector must first
apply to be added to the Town's electors' register before receiving a special ballot package
in accordance with Section 77.1(1.1) of the Act.
10.3
Electors must apply for a special ballot package:
a)
for a general election, between 8:00 AM on August 1 of the year in which the general
election is to be held and 4:30 PM seven (7) days prior to election day; or
b)
for any other election or a vote on a bylaw or question, in accordance with the dates
established by the Returning Officer.
10.4
The elector must provide the following information to the Returning Officer to apply for a
Special Ballot:
a)
The first and last name of the elector;
b)
The municipal address of the residence of the elector;
c)
School elector status, if the elector is voting for a trustee of a board of a school
division;
d)
The mailing address to which the special ballot will be sent; and
e)
Contact e-mail address, if the elector is unavailable by telephone.
Town of Drumheller
Bylaw 13.25
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10.5
Upon receiving an application for a special ballot that complies with the requirements of this
Bylaw and the Act, the Returning Officer will issue the elector with a special ballot package
within forty-eight (48) hours after the close of nominations on nomination day.
10.6
Special ballot packages must be returned to the Returning Officer no later than 4:30 PM on
election day pursuant to section 77.21(2) of the Act.
a)
If a special ballot package is not received before 4:30 PM on election day, the special
ballot will be considered a rejected ballot pursuant to section 77.3 of the Act.
11. BALLOT CARDS
11.1
Candidates' names shall be listed on the Ballot Card alphabetically by surname. Each
surname shall be capitalized and bolded.
12. BLIND ELECTOR TEMPLATE
12.1
A blind elector template for use by blind electors shall be created if a request by a valid
elector is submitted no later than June 30 of an election year.
12.2
If a blind elector template is requested, the Returning Officer shall:
a)
notify electors of the availability of the blind elector templates in conjunction with the
notice of election, pursuant to section 78(4.3) of the Act; and
b)
provide electors who are blind with blind elector templates on election day and during
advanced votes, pursuant to section 78(4.3) of the Act.
13. ELECTION SIGNAGE
13.1
All election signage shall be in compliance with the Election Signage Bylaw.
14. EARLY COUNT
14.1
The Returning Officer shall be authorized to begin counting ballots from the Advance Vote,
Special Ballot or Institutional Vote starting at 7:30 PM on Election Day at the designated
counting centre.
15. DEATH OF A CANDIDATE
15.1
If a candidate dies after being nominated but before the opening of voting stations during
the advance vote or on election day, the Returning Officer will provide notice of the
candidate's death in a conspicuous location at all relevant voting stations pursuant to
section 33(2) of the Act.
16. SEVERABILITY
16.1
If any portion of this Bylaw Is found to be invalid, that portion shall be severed from the
remainder of the Bylaw and shall not invalidate the whole Bylaw.
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Bylaw 13.25
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17. TRANSITIONAL
17.1
This Bylaw comes into full force and effect upon third and final reading.
17.2
Bylaw #12.21 and Bylaw #10.77 are hereby repealed.
READ A FIRST TIME THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH, 2025
READ A SECOND TIME THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH 2025
READ A THIRD AND FINAL TIME THIS 3rd DAY OF MARCH 2025
The original document, duly signed and executed, is retained on file.