UCP board president outlines leadership review process amid new mail-in voting
Posted Mar 24, 2022 5:52 pm.
Last Updated Mar 24, 2022 7:02 pm.
The United Conservative Party has outlined how the new mail-in voting process will function for the upcoming leadership review.
The review was poised to be an in-person event held in Red Deer on April 9. However, due to a massive increase in membership, according to a message from the UCP board obtained by CityNews, the leadership review will be online due to a massive increase in memberships. Mail-in ballots will also be used to decide whether Premier Jason Kenney should stay on as party leader.
In an email obtained by CityNews minutes after it was sent to party members, UCP board president Cynthia Moore expanded on the new process.
UCP Board President Cynthia Moore sends out an e-mail explaining how the leadership review mail-in ballot will work. She says results will be made public on May 18 (5wks 4days after Apr. 9). She outlines measures they're taking to 'ensure integrity.' #abpoli #ableg #Alberta pic.twitter.com/fT8G49GxPJ
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) March 24, 2022
She said the ballot will be mailed out sometime after April 9 and must be returned to the party by 5 p.m., May 11.
That means the vote results won’t be public until May 18, that’s five and a half weeks later than the initial plans.
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Constituency association presidents, CFOs, and secretaries are being asked to act as scrutineers of ballot verification and counting processes. These people are locally elected, have years of experience, and have every interest in ensuring the voting process is fair according to Moore.
Several CA presidents and MLAs held an event outside Kenney’s Legislature office on Thursday, denouncing the leadership review changes.
An auditing firm will be retained to receive ballots and oversee verification and counting procedures.
Moore says this provides independent oversight.
