Lethbridge West voters going to the polls on Dec. 18

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on November 21, 2024.

Herald photos Candidate Rob Miyashiro (NDP) at left, and John Middleton-Hope (UCP) at right, have officially begun their campaigns as voters in the Lethbridge West riding head to the polls in a byelection set for Dec. 18.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Eligible voters in the Lethbridge West constituency will be going to the polls on Dec. 18.

Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure has confirmed a writ was issued Wednesday to fill the vacancy in Electoral Division 72 – Lethbridge West created when NDP MLA Shannon Phillips resigned her seat on July 1.

“Appointments have been made for the Returning Officer and Election Clerk in Lethbridge-West and they are ready to conduct voting in the electoral division,” said McClure in a release issued by the provincial government.

As of Wednesday, Elections Alberta was in the process of confirming voting locations.

Candidate nominations are now open and end at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Eligible voters will be able to cast advance ballots from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14 and at their assigned location on Dec. 18.

People can also vote at the returning office, 236-200 4 Ave. S. until Dec. 20. And special balloting may be available to those won’t be able to vote in person.

Voting stations will be open on Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. with official results to be announced on Dec. 28 at 10 a.m.

Voters must be Canadian citizens and 18 years of age on Election Day if they are “an ordinary resident” of the riding.

Lethbridge West residents can learn if they are eligible to vote by going to https://www.voterlink.ab.ca/vlAIR.cfm

To cast ballots, voters will have to prove their identity and current address. This can be done in sever ways including:

To vote, you must prove your identity and current address.

To do this, you may:

• Provide one piece of Government-issued photo ID, including your full name, current address, and photo.

• Provide two pieces of ID, both containing your full name, and with one showing your current physical address.

• Have another registered elector in your voting area vouch for you.

• Have an authorized signatory complete an attestation form.

Premier Danielle Smith said in a statement the government was waiting to call the election with the expectation that NDP leader Naheed Nenshi would also be seeking a seat in the legislature.

“Having two by-elections at once would save Alberta taxpayers resources and would hopefully support a higher voter turnout in both ridings due to the buzz it would generate. Unfortunately, he has still not made any indication that he plans to seek a seat and given it has been 151 days, apparently has no desire to sit in the legislature,” the premier stated.

“Given the legislative requirement to call the by-election within 6 months and that deadline is quickly approaching, the government made the decision to call it today,” Smith added.

In his own statement, Nenshi said “Lethbridge-West residents will finally have their chance to send Danielle Smith a message that better is possible. Even though the premier has cynically chosen to call a by-election just before Christmas, at the end of final exams, in the hopes that students and busy families won’t be able to vote, we know that’s not true. We’ve been on the doors for months, and citizens have been clear. They deserve better.”

Two candidates have so far declared they are running for election including the UCP’s John Middleton-Hope and NDP’s Rob Miyashiro.

Middleton-Hope announced he would be taking an unpaid leave of absence from his city council duties to focus on the election campaign.

The City Clerk’s office, in response to questions, said his departure will cause no change in council’s decision-making ability with one fewer councillor in attendance. If there is a tie vote on a resolution – as per usual, the resolution will be considered defeated as outlined in the Municipal Government Act.

If Middleton-Hope is elected, city council will have to determine if they wish to hold a by-election of their own but there is no requirement to do so if a vacancy occurs at least 18 months prior to the municipal election which is set for Oct. 20 of 2025.