Council approves Election Bylaw, including changes due to Bill 20

As Lethbridge residents prepare to head to the polls in October, they should be aware of several changes coming for the 2025 Election – most notably that results will be delayed.

Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday approved second and third readings of the Election Bylaw, including regulated updates in relation to the Provincial Government’s Bill 20.

The 2025 Election will be held for the City of Lethbridge’s Mayor and Councillors, as well as for Trustees for the Lethbridge School Division and the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division.

The Election Period voting begins on October 8, and concludes when polls close on Monday, October 20. The Nomination Period for the 2025 Municipal Election opened on January 1 and will close at noon on September 22. The City will again produce the popular information videos for each candidate for voters to watch ahead of the Election.

The most significant impacts of Bill 20, which was enacted on October 31, include the need for an Elector’s register (voters’ list, which no municipality in Alberta currently uses) and that electronic tabulators are prohibited for ballot counting – meaning that results have to be counted by hand.

Ahead of Council’s decision, Bonnie Hilford, Returning Officer/City Clerk, and David Sarsfield, Deputy City Clerk, presented to Governance SPC on November 28. They described the budget, expenses and funding estimates, the voters’ list, the impacts of hand counting, additional considerations, and other changes for the 2025 Election.

Standard Elections expenses are $342,186, with an additional $323,360 estimated due to Bill 20 impacts. The City is responsible for these costs, but there will be no additional taxpayer funds required for 2025 due to Budget Appropriations Unexpended (BAU – unspent funds) and allotted money in the 2023-2026 Operating Budget.

Impact to voters:

• Prior to October 1, voters must go to the Elections Alberta website to register to vote
• After October 1, 2025, voters must complete a form at a Voting Station

Impact related to hand counting:

• A hand-count has not been done in Lethbridge since 1989
• Lethbridge’s ‘At Large’ representation system makes hand-counting ballots more complex and time-consuming for: Councillors (eight), Public School Trustees (seven), Separate School Trustees (five)
• Each voter will have separate ballots for mayoral candidates, council candidates, school board candidates, plus any possible questions
• We will be using colour coded ballots and ballot boxes for sorting
• Two hand-counting exercises were conducted to test and estimate time and resources. Results of the second exercise are shown in this video

Additional considerations:

• The anticipated budget is based on the 2021 voter turnout of 35 per cent (28,298), plus growth of 3,700. If turnout is above this, then time and costs will increase
• If there is a recount or challenge, the time and costs will increase significantly
• The anticipated budget does not include any municipal or provincial questions. In 2021, there were two municipal questions and two provincial questions, plus senatorial selection. If any of these occur, timing and expenses will increase
• More ballots equals more ballot boxes equals more time to hand count
• Workers cannot be expected to count continuous around the clock, and without error. Balancing will occur the Monday night (October 20) and counting will commence the Tuesday, with three shifts/day of four hours for an estimated total of 11 shifts

Other changes for Election 2025:

• Voting period will be nine days from October 8-20
• There will likely be three voting superstations (west, north and south) – locations to be confirmed – and all will be open during the election period
• No drive-by voting, as seen in 2021
• Improperly placed candidate campaign signs will be confiscated for remainder of election period

General information:

• Those interested in putting their name forward as nominees for the 2025 Municipal and School Elections can now access online resources to help them with this process
• The City’s election website, lethbridge.ca/election, will be updated regularly as the Nomination Period progresses. The website includes Nomination Papers, local and provincial legislative information and background to support those interested in running for public office
• All Nomination Papers must be fully completed before submission. Forms that are incomplete or contain errors will not be accepted. Candidates must submit their Nomination Papers in person at City Hall. Appointments must be booked by emailing election@lethbridge.ca