HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-06-110 - Advance Vote - 2006 Electionsl
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Corporate Services
Report To: Chair Vrbanovic and Members of the Finance & Corporate
Services Commitee
Date of Meeting: August 21, 2006
Submitted By: R. Gosse, Director of Legislated Services/City Clerk
Prepared By: R. Gosse
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: July 19, 2006
Report No.: CRPS-06-110
Subject: ADVANCE VOTE - 2006 ELECTIONS
RECOMMENDATION:
That pursuant to Section 43 (1) of the Municipal Elections Act, the following dates and
times for the 2006 advance vote, be approved by By-law:
Saturday October 28, 2006 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday November 1, 2006 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday November 2, 2006 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 4, 2006 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
BACKGROUND:
Section 43 (1) of the Municipal Elections Act, as amended, states as follows:
At least 30 days before Voting Day, the Council of a local municipality shall pass a by-law
establishing,
(a) one or more dates for an advance vote; and
(b) the hours during which voting places shall be open on that date or dates.
In the 2003 Municipal Election, advance votes were held between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and
6:00 p.m. on the following dates: Saturday, October 25; Thursday October 30; Friday, October
31; and, Saturday, November 1. All voting took place in City Hall.
REPORT:
The City of Kitchener has typically held the advance vote on 4 dates in City Hall for all Wards
and has never held advance voting outside of City Hall. This year it is being recommended that
4 days of voting take place similar to what had taken place in 2003.
What will change in 2006 is where the advance voting will be held. In order to make it more
convenient for all electors regardless of the Ward they reside in and in an attempt to increase
voter turnout at the advance vote, in 2006 there will be 3 advance votes in each of the 6 Wards
and an advance vote at the Kitchener Market for all 6 Wards.
The 3 advance votes in each of the 6 Wards will be held in community centres. In selecting the
centres, several factors were considered, including: location in context of the Ward; size of
available space; and accessibility. The goal is to make it more convenient for the elector to cast
their vote at an advance vote and in turn, increase voter turnout. It should be noted that
although an advance vote has traditionally been looked upon as a means to allow an elector to
cast a vote if they will not be available on voting day, any eligible elector may cast their vote at
an advance vote. The dates for the 3 advance votes are: Wednesday, November 1; Thursday,
November 2; and, Saturday, November 4.
The advance voting day at the Kitchener Market is actually the first day of voting, Saturday,
October 28. Information contained in a report (CRPS-05-171) submitted to the Finance &
Corporate Services Committee on November 21, 2005, stated that the October 28 vote would
be held at the Fairview Park Mall. Since that time, property management for the Mall has
decided to undertake renovations and could not guarantee the required space. In light of this
unexpected change, it was decided to utilize space at the Kitchener Market.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
In 2003, the cost of holding the advance votes in City Hall for all 6 Wards was approximately
$2,000. (in today's dollar). The planned changes to hold advance voting at the Kitchener Market
and in each of the 6 Wards is estimated at $8,000. This cost is included in the 2006 election
budget and apost-election analysis will be undertaken to determine if the results warrant the
additional cost in future elections.
Communications:
In addition to the required notices of the advance vote under the Act, there will be promotion of
the advance vote changes through posters, brochures and articles. As well, there is an
opportunity to promote Shop `n Vote at the Kitchener Market.
R. Gosse
Director of Legislated Services/City Clerk