Voter Registration Card, image via Elections Canada
Advance voting begins in early October; more workers needed due to hand-counted ballots
FORT MCMURRAY, AB. — Residents across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) are being asked to start preparing for the upcoming municipal and school trustee elections, with advance voting for Ward 1 set to begin on October 3.
Election Day is October 20, but key deadlines are approaching rapidly. The deadline to register to vote online is August 15 at voterlink.ab.ca, although in-person registration at the polls remains an option on voting day. However, the RMWB says registering prior to election day will save time and help the voting process proceed smoothly.
Candidates have until noon on September 22 to file nomination papers. The deadline to submit candidate profiles to the municipal website is September 23.
The Municipality will feature optional candidate profiles for mayor and councillors on its election website in late September. Residents are encouraged to review these profiles and check candidate websites and social media accounts to help inform their vote.
This year’s election comes with a significant change to how ballots will be counted. Due to changes in provincial legislation, municipalities across Alberta will be hand-counting all ballots instead of using vote tabulators. As a result, official results are not expected for at least three days after voting ends.
“This change means results will take longer, but it also means we need more election workers,” the Municipality noted in a statement. An estimated 345 shifts will be required for the 2025 election, nearly double the number needed in 2021.
Job applications are open for three paid roles: Presiding Deputy Returning Officer ($37/hour), Deputy Returning Officer ($27/hour), and Information Officer ($22/hour). Applicants must be at least 16 years old, eligible to work in Canada, and fluent in English. More details can be found at rmwb.ca/election.
Advance voting for Ward 1 runs from October 3 to 17, while advance voting for Wards 2, 3 and 4 is set for October 15 and 16.
The Municipality is encouraging all eligible residents to learn more about their voting options, available positions, and the importance of participating in local democracy by visiting rmwb.ca/election or calling Pulse at 780-743-7000.Bottom of Form
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