Speaker: Laura Kennedy

City Clerk/ Returning Officer for the City of Calgary

Join us on October 23rd to have an opportunity to meet the Returning Officer for the 2018 Vote of the Electors and enjoy a discussion around some of the ways the City Clerk's Office is looking to improve the voting opportunities for the upcoming vote.

Elections Calgary has been working hard to improve the voting experience. A review of the 2017 Election identified a number of processes that needed revisions in order to improve the experience for voters and election workers. All processes have been reviewed and updated with some processes having undergone major revisions such as ballot distribution, voting station flow, and the introduction of decentralized distribution centers (Ward Offices).

This is the first time in recent history that a Vote of the Electors (Vote 2018) has been held separately from an election. A Vote of the Electors operates under the Local Authorities Election Act and City Bylaws, similar to an election; however, there are some differences.

Some of the key differences between a Vote of the Electors and an Election are:
• Instead of candidates, there are yes/no coalitions.
• There may be multiple yes/no coalitions.
• Yes/no coalitions are not required to provide financial disclosures.
• Campaigning rules in voting stations (No campaigning) are still in effect.
• A Vote of the Electors is non-binding, meaning Council can take the results under consideration, but are not bound by them.
• There is a single ballot.
• The options on the ballot will not be rotated, but rather will remain the same on every ballot.

The question that will appear on the ballot for Vote 2018 is:

Are you for or are you against Calgary hosting the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games?
__ I am for Calgary hosting
__ I am against Calgary hosting