Huntsville residents will be logging on to virtual polls — or calling in — on October 22, 2018 to elect the next term of council which will serve from December 1, 2018 to November 14, 2022.
Nominations for candidates will open on May 1 and must be received by July 27 at 2:00 p.m.
This year, voters will cast their ballots either via the internet or by telephone. The Municipal Elections Modernization Act, 2016, which made changes to the Municipal Elections Act, permitted municipalities to pass bylaws authorizing the use of alternative voting, such as by mail or by internet, with a deadline of May 1 in the year prior to an election. Huntsville passed a bylaw to allow internet and telephone voting last spring.
Enumeration lists will be mailed by MPAC beginning in mid-May and need to be returned by June 4 to ensure inclusion on the voters’ list.
Sometime in the summer, on a date to be announced later, the Town will hold an public information session to allow voters, candidates and scrutineers the opportunity to become familiar with the internet/telephone voting system via a mock election.
Eligible voters will be mailed a Voters Information Letter (VIL) via Canada Post at the end of September, which will include dates and times for voting and a PIN that can only be used once. Using someone else’s PIN is illegal.
Town Hall will be designated as the Election Help Centre for voting, with access to the internet available through voting kiosks. Election officials will be available to help voters if they require assistance. Additional help centres may be established if needed. Huntsville Public Library also has internet access available for residents who don’t have access to a computer or internet service.
For more information on the 2018 municipal election, see the Town of Huntsville 2018 Municipal Election Procedures here (PDF) or visit huntsville.ca/en/townHall/2018Election.asp.
Related: Today Doppler series of commentaries from municipal politicians which allows them to tell you, in their own words, what is important to them, what bugs them and what makes them tick. Each week we will feature a member of either the Huntsville or Lake of Bays Council. First up, Lake of Bays Mayor Bob Young — Is equal representation at the District a pipe dream?
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