City of Calgary lays out voting details ahead of Oct. 18 election
Posted Sep 28, 2021 1:31 pm.
Last Updated Sep 28, 2021 1:32 pm.
CALGARY – If you’re voting in next month’s municipal election, the City of Calgary wants you to rest assured it will be a safe and fast experience.
In addition to COVID-19 protocols, there are more staff and more opportunities to vote ahead of time as well.
It will be a costly election as a result, as we not only have to pick one of over two dozen mayoral candidates but there’s also a pair of referendum questions tacked on as well.
Return Officer Kate Martin says you may have to wait a little bit.
“I think it’s reasonable that we will expect some wait times, in light of the social distancing measures that we have to put in place. In order to support efficient voting, we have increased the number of election workers as well,” said Martin.
You don’t have to cast a ballot on Oct. 18 as advance voting is open from Oct. 4 to 10, and there are 11 more places to do so with extended hours.
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Mail-in ballots are also available as is curbside voting.
But for those voting in person, you’ll need to bring your mask.
“We cannot deny anyone their right to vote based on a refusal to wear masks. So the first thing that our election workers will do is we will offer them the opportunity to vote outside at what we call a curbside vote,” explained Martin.
“If they refuse to vote outside, and the next option would be to vote inside without a mask.”
Make sure you bring proper ID when you vote.
City officials are also making sure the election is safe from cyber threats on voting day and ensure there’s no way the vote tallies can be hacked.
“When the results are transmitted it’s just through a one-way secure private network that wouldn’t entertain or provide the opportunity for the type of hacking. It’s not networked in a way, the way that a regular computer would be,” shared Deputy City Clerk Andrew Brouwer.
