Show All Answers

1. Who is Eligible to Vote?

Local Authorities Election Act, Section 47

A person is eligible to vote in an election held pursuant to this Act if the person:

• is at least 18 years old;
• is a Canadian citizen; and
• resides in Alberta and the person’s place of residence is located in the local jurisdiction on Election Day.

 Note:  An elector is eligible to vote only at the voting station for the voting subdivision in which the elector's place of residence is located on election day (exceptions:  where a voting station is located at a work site; advance vote; incapacitated elector voting at home; institutional vote, and those election officials who have been provided a certificate).

2. Voter Identification

To vote in the 2023 Town of Slave Lake  by-election:

• You must be 18 years of age on Election Day
• You must be a Canadian citizen
• You must be a resident of the Town of Slave Lake
• You must provide authorized ID to verify your identity and place of residence

In order to vote in the upcoming municipal elections, voters will be required to provide proof of their name and home address. The following types of verification meet the standard provincial requirement for one piece of identification.

• Identification issued by a Canadian government, whether federal, provincial or local, or an agency of that government, that contains a photograph of the elector and their name and current address.
• Bank or credit card statement or personal cheque.
• Government cheque or cheque stub.
• Income or property tax assessment notice.
• Insurance policy or coverage card.
• Letter from a public curator, public guardian or public trustee.
• Pension plan statement of benefits, contributions or participation.
• Residential lease or mortgage statement.
• Statement of government benefits (for example, employment insurance, old-age security, social assistance, disability support or child tax benefit).
• Utility bill (for example, telephone, public utilities commission, television, hydro, gas or water).
• Vehicle ownership, registration or insurance certificate.

A letter or form (attestation) confirming that the person lives at the stated address will also be accepted as valid proof. The letter can be signed prior to the vote by any of the following: 

• authorized representative of a commercial property management company;
• authorized representative of a correctional institution;
• authorized representative of a First Nations band or reserve;
• authorized representative of a postsecondary institution;
• authorized representative of a facility that provides services to the homeless; or
• authorized representative of a supportive living facility or treatment centre.

If a voter’s identification shows a post office box number as the address instead of a residential or legal address, it can be accepted as verification of current address if it is in reasonable distance to the voting jurisdiction. The address does not have to be in the voting division or ward. An elected authority could, by bylaw, require additional verification or a combination of verification to establish the person’s specific current address.

3. Rules of Residence

Local Authorities Election Act, Section 48

A person’s place of residence for this Act is governed by the following rules:

• a person may be a resident of only one place at a time for the purposes of voting under this Act;
• if a person has more than one residence in Alberta, that person shall designate one place of residence as the person's place of residence for the purposes of this Act;
• the residence of a person is the place where the person lives and sleeps and to which, when the person is absent, the person intends to return;
• a person does not lose the person's residence by leaving the person's home for a temporary purpose;
• A student who:

• attends an educational institution within or outside Alberta;
• temporarily rents accommodation for the purpose of attending an educational institution; and
• has family members who are resident in Alberta and with whom the student ordinarily resides when not attending an educational institution, is deemed to reside with those family members.

A person shall designate the person's place of residence in accordance with the following factors in the following order of priority:

• the address shown on the person’s driver's license or motor vehicle operator’s license issued by or on behalf of the Government of Alberta or an identification card issued by or on behalf of the Government of Alberta;
• the address to which the person’s income tax correspondence is addressed and delivered; or
• the address to which the person’s mail is addressed and delivered.

4. Advance Vote

All electors are eligible to vote at the advance voting opportunity.

2023 By-Election Advance Voting will be held on the following dates and locations:

March 25th 10AM-4PM at the Town Office: 10 Main Street SW Box 1030 Slave Lake, AB  T0G 2A0.

March 29th 10AM-7PM at the Town Office: 10 Main Street SW Box 1030 Slave Lake, AB  T0G 2A0.

5. Interpreter and/or Elector who is unable to vote in the usual manner

If an elector does not understand the English language, an interpreter may translate the "Instructions for Electors" as well as respond to questions from the elector that are necessary for the purposes of the election.  Before acting as an interpreter, it is required that the person make a statement on the prescribed form; this is the Statement of Interpreter, Elector Who is Unable to Vote in the Usual Manner, Friend or Relative of Elector Who is Unable to Vote in the Usual Manner (Form 17RSE).

If an elector  is unable to vote in the usual manner, they may request assistance.  This assistance may be provided by a Deputy Returning Officer, a friend, or a relative.  The elector must verbally make the prescribed statement which is the Statement of Interpreter, Elector Who is Unable to Vote in the Usual Manner, Friend or Relative of Elector Who is Unable to Vote in the Usual Manner (Form 17RSE).  The friend or relative of the elector is also required to make the Statement of Interpreter, Elector Who is Unable to Vote in the Usual Manner, Friend or Relative of Elector Who is Unable to Vote in the Usual Manner (Form 17RSE).

6. Important Principles of Voting

Local Authorities Election Act, Section 55, 56, 57

Voting is by secret ballot.

Except as permitted in the case of an incapacitated elector, no other person shall be in the voting compartment with the elector.

Except as permitted in the case of an incapacitated elector, no person shall be in a position where he/she is able to see how the elector marks the ballot.

It is an offence for an elector to show his ballot so another person can see how he/she voted, except as permitted in the case of an incapacitated elector.

No person shall be required to reveal how he/she has voted.

An elector may not vote for more than the number of persons to be elected to an office.

If applicable, an elector may vote once on each bylaw or question.

An elector may vote only once in an election.