Town of Creston By-Election

The Declaration of Official Election Results: https://letstalk.creston.ca/23585/widgets/95244/documents/66304

Here are the preliminary results of the Town of Creston's 2021 By-Election for two (2) Town Councillor positions:

• Baldwin, Keith - 529
• Eisler, Norm - 572
• Goforth, Keith - 486
• Hutchinson, Bill - 418
• Maddocks, Nora - 381

The official declaration of the Town of Creston's 2021 By-Election results will be made on September 22, 2021 at 4:00 pm.

Pursuant to Section 110 (1) of the Local Government Act and Ministerial Order M307 (Elections in Special Circumstances (COVID-19) Regulation) all qualified electors for the Town of Creston are permitted to vote by mail.

To request a mail ballot package application contact Town of Creston Elections Staff by email at elections@creston.ca or by phone at (250) 428-2214. Alternately, Mail Ballot applications are available at Town Hall (238-10th Avenue North) between 9:00 am -12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Monday – Friday (except for Statutory Holidays) or can be downloaded electronically here: https://letstalk.creston.ca/23585/widgets/95244/documents/63898.

Mail Ballots packages will be sent out on or around August 31, 2021 and may be delivered by:

• pick up at Town Hall, OR
• regular letter mail through Canada Post to residential address, OR
• regular letter mail through Canada Post to an alternate address that is provided when the Mail Ballot package is requested.

The deadline to request a Mail Ballot is 4:00 pm on Thursday September 16, 2021. Please note that any Mail Ballot packages requested after September 10, 2021 will need to be picked up at Town Hall.

Mail Ballots must be received by the Chief Election Officer at Town Hall by Friday September 17, 2021 at 4:00 pm (preferred) or at Upper Rotacrest Hall (230-19th Avenue North) on General Voting Day, Saturday September 18, 2021, no later than 8:00 pm.

It is the obligation of the person applying to vote by Mail Ballot to ensure that the mail ballot is received by the Chief Election Officer within this time limit.

For any questions please contact:

• Kirsten Dunbar, Chief Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (210)
• Marsha Neufeld, Deputy Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (120)
• Donna Cassel, Deputy Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (410)

To view the Town of Creston 2021 Local Government By-election Declaration of Voting by Election please visit: https://letstalk.creston.ca/23585/widgets/95244/documents/64138

To view the Town of Creston 2021 Local Government By-election Declaration of Candidates for Councillor (two positions) please visit: https://letstalk.creston.ca/23585/widgets/95244/documents/63797

How to Become a Candidate

Interested in running for local government office? Nomination period opens on August 3, 2021 at 9:00 am. In order to be eligible to run for municipal Council in British Columbia, there are specific qualifications that must be met (outlined below). Prospective candidates must also complete and submit a Nomination Package to the Chief Election Officer or designate before the close of Nomination Period on August 13, 2021 at 4:00 pm.

Nomination Packages

Beginning on August 3, 2021, Nomination Packages will be available for pick up at Town Hall, 238-10th Avenue North, Creston, B.C., or may be requested by email at elections@creston.ca. Candidates need to ensure their forms are correctly filled out and that the chosen nominators (2) are Resident Electors.

Completed Nomination Packages must be returned by 4:00 pm on August 13, 2021:

Qualifications to Run for Local Government Office

A person must:

• Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day
• Be a Canadian Citizen
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at lease six months prior to filing nomination documents
• Be nominated by two resident electors of the Town of Creston
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to, or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

For more candidate resources, please visit: https://letstalk.creston.ca/candidate-information

For more information contact:

• Kirsten Dunbar, Chief Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (210)
• Marsha Neufeld, Deputy Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (120)
• Donna Cassel, Deputy Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (410)

or email: elections@creston.ca

Voting Opportunities:

General Voting Day: Saturday September 18, 2021 from 8 am to 8 pm

Advance Voting Days: Wednesday September 1, and September 8, 2021 from 8 am to 8 pm

Location: General and Advance Voting Opportunities will be held at Upper Rotacrest Hall, located at 230-19 Avenue North, Creston BC.

Mail Ballot Voting: In accordance with the Local Government Act and Local Government Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 1926, 2021, Mail ballots are permitted for resident and non-resident property electors who have a physical disability or are planning to be out of town on General Voting Day. The Town is also requesting a Ministerial Order to expand the use of mail ballots to all eligible electors in the Town of Creston. More details regarding the process to request mail ballots will be available in the coming weeks.

Advance Registration:

Are you eligible to vote in the September 18, 2021 Local By-Election? If you aren't sure find out by calling 428-2214 or visiting Town Hall, 238-10th Avenue North. Advance elector registrations will be accepted until July 27, 2021. New registrations will also be accepted on Advance and General Voting Days.

Elector Qualifications:

The following qualifications must be met to register as a resident or non-resident property elector.

Resident Electors:

• 18 years of age or older;
• Canadian citizen;
• resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• resident of the Town of Creston for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; and,
• not disqualified under this or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law.

Non-Resident Property Electors:

• not entitled to register as a resident elector;
• 18 years of age or older;
• Canadian citizen;
• resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• registered owner of real property in the Town of Creston for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration;
• the only persons who are registered owners of the real property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust;
• not disqualified under this or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law; and,
• if there is more than one individual who is the registered owner of real property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector.

Interested in Running for Local Office?

Information for those interested in running for local office can be found here: https://letstalk.creston.ca/candidate-information

Creston, B.C., June 30, 2021: Today, Town Council Appointed Kirsten Dunbar as the Chief Election Officer and Marsha Neufeld and Donna Cassel as the Deputy Election Officers to lead the upcoming by-election resulting from the resignation of Councillors Karen Unruh and Ellen Tzakis earlier this spring.

General Voting Day will be Saturday September 18, 2021 from 8 am - 8 pm at the Upper Rotacrest Hall, 230 19 Ave, Creston. Advance Voting will take place on Wednesday September 1 and Wednesday September 8, 2021 from 8 am - 8 pm at the Upper Rotacrest Hall.

Qualified Candidates interested in putting their name forward for office in the Town of Creston 2021 by-election must submit their required nomination package during Candidate Nomination Period, which begins on August 3rd 2021 at 9 am and concludes at 4 pm on August 13, 2021.

Those interested in voting in the by-election should ensure they are eligible to vote and are registered. In accordance with the Local Government Act and the Town of Creston's Local Government Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 1926, 2021 the Town will be using the Provincial Voters List as the register of resident electors. Advance elector registration will be accepted until July 27, 2021. New elector registration will also be accepted on advance and general voting days.

To find out if you are currently registered and eligible to vote as a resident or non-resident property elector, or for further information related to the Candidate Nomination Period, please email elections@creston.ca, phone 250-428-2214, or visit Town Hall at 238- 10th Avenue North.

All legislated notices containing important dates and announcements respecting the by-election will be advertised in the Creston Valley Advance as well as posted on the Town of Creston's website.

For more information contact:

• Kirsten Dunbar, Chief Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (210)
• Marsha Neufeld, Deputy Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (120)
• Donna Cassel, Deputy Election Officer, 250 428-2214 (410)