Dear Editor:

I have read the comments in a recent letter to the editor as well as have received numerous enquiries from those heading out of town during the upcoming municipal election.

I would like to take the opportunity to give the facts about the setting of the dates and times for voting in Osoyoos.

Firstly, I would like to clarify that the town is not taking away a person’s right to vote because they will be out of town during the two available voting dates – the advance poll is scheduled for November 5 and the municipal election will be held on November 15. If an individual wishes to vote, there are two opportunities available to them and if they choose to leave the town before these dates, it is beyond the town’s control.

Based on the various calls and in-person enquiries we have received from those leaving town, under the election timelines for various things such as nomination time periods, withdrawal and challenging periods, the ballots won’t have even been received by the date they are leaving.

This is something that even another voting opportunity or mail voting would not resolve.

The Provincial Local Government Act sets out the dates and process for elections.

In a year featuring a general local election, the legislation is clear that the voting day must be the third Saturday in November with the required advance voting opportunity being held 10 days prior.

For 2014, this means the election must occur on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Municipalities with a population over 5,000 must have a second advance voting opportunity, which is set by bylaw and which would be between the required advance voting and general voting days.

Therefore, as the current legislation stands, even if the Town of Osoyoos were to have a second advance voting opportunity, it would be held between November 5 and 15.

The provincial legislation does allow for a municipality to provide for mail ballot voting. This option was presented to previous councils as well as the current council and was not approved to be included in the election bylaw, which had to be in place no later than August 5 this year.

There is a significant cost involved to provide for mail voting ballots and the time period would still not suit those travelling before the end of October as we would need an address to send them to.

Ballots are not generally received and audited until the last week of October and based on the dates I have heard people are leaving town, would not be available before they left. Proxy voting and internet voting are not available options to local government in the Local Government Act and therefore, municipalities cannot opt for either of these alternatives.

There will be changes in the provincial legislation before the next general local election in 2018 to move the general voting day to the third Saturday in October instead of in November. This being the case, those who will be heading south for the winter in November will be able to exercise their rights to vote before leaving.

Janette Van Vianen

Chief Election Officer

Town of Osoyoos