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Preamble:
WHEREAS the Local Authorities Election Act legislates the process for municipal elections in Alberta, including the timing of municipal elections; and
WHEREAS the Canada Elections Act legislates the process for federal elections in Canada, including the timing of federal elections; and
WHEREAS the 2025 municipal election is scheduled for October 20, 2025 pursuant to section 11(1)(a) of the Local Authorities Election Act; and
WHEREAS the 2025 federal election is tentatively scheduled for October 20, 2025 pursuant to section 56.1(2) of the Canada Elections Act; and
WHEREAS the simultaneous scheduling of the 2025 municipal and federal elections may lead to challenges for municipalities in securing suitable voting stations and sufficient election workers due to higher demand and availability being shared between both elections, potentially leading to unnecessary shortages and operational challenges;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the governments of Alberta and Canada to collaborate, using the powers given to them in the Local Authorities Election Act and the Canada Elections Act respectively, on conducting either the 2025 municipal or federal election on an alternate day to October 20, 2025.
Member Background:
The 2025 federal and municipal elections are scheduled for October 20, 2025 pursuant to the Local Authorities Election Act and Canada Elections Act. The overlapping scheduling of these elections may lead to operational challenges for municipalities due to increased competition in securing sufficient election workers and adequate voting stations.
Voter turnout, which is already low in municipal elections, may be negatively impacted even further due to the concurrent municipal and federal elections competing for the public’s time and attention. Voters may become fatigued by having to navigate between two different election campaigns and voting in two different elections on the same day or may become discouraged from paying attention to or voting in either election.
Rescheduling either the 2025 municipal or federal election to an alternate and more appropriate date would minimize conflicts with the administration and participation in the 2025 municipal and federal elections by enabling increased availability of voting stations and election workers, as well as reducing voter fatigue associated with holding two different elections simultaneously.
Section 56.2(1) of the Canada Elections Act permits the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada to choose another day for conducting the 2025 federal election, including if the day of the federal election would conflict with the day of a provincial or municipal election.
Additionally, when the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Bill 20) is proclaimed and comes into full force and effect, section 6.1 of the Local Authorities Election Act would permit the Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs to take action when unusual or unforeseen circumstances are likely to have a significant effect on the conduct of an election or the ability of electors to attend at a voting station in one or more local jurisdictions.
RMA Background:
RMA has no active resolutions directly related to this issue.
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