Council approves amendments to Election Bylaw

Lloydminster, AB/SK – Eligible voters and interested parties who seek to become an elected member of Council will see changes during the City of Lloydminster’s 2020 municipal election in November.

Lloydminster City Council passed the 2020 Election Bylaw during the Monday, July 20, 2020, Council meeting. This year’s bylaw received three amendments:

• The addition of mail-in ballots to the 2020 Election Bylaw provides the elector access to vote in the 2020 municipal election. Used when an elector will be out of the city for both the advanced polls and on election day, mail-in ballots ensure the opportunity to vote.
• Every candidate shall disclose, on a form or in a manner prescribed by the Returning Officer, all campaign contributions received from any person, entity or corporation with a cumulative value of $250 or more.
• With the concerns of COVID–19, the bylaw would allow the Returning Officer to create a drive-thru polling station if deemed appropriate.

Along with the above amendments, the Election Bylaw's approval appoints the City Clerk, Doug Rodwell, as the Returning Officer. A returning officer is a person appointed to conduct an election under the Local Government Election Act, 2015.

All elections within the City of Lloydminster follow the Local Government Election Act, 2015 (Saskatchewan). Section 9.1 of the act provides a list of matters that the municipalities may decide by bylaw, including the addition of the candidate’s occupation on the ballot, rules for the nomination deposit, the use of voting machines and mail-in ballots.

Administration is finalizing additional election details such as the polling stations and the election officials' remuneration and will be presented to Council for decision.

The Lloydminster municipal election is Monday, November 9, 2020.