Presentation: 2022 General Local Election Review

2022 General Local Election Review

Committee of the Whole – March 14, 2023

PURPOSE:

1. To provide a summary of the 2022 general local government election.
2. To advise of a change in vote tabulating equipment to be used in future elections.
3. To consider options for election signs.

BACKGROUND:

• Voting by Location
• Voter Participation Rates
• Vote Tabulators
• Election Sign Zones

VOTING BY LOCATION:

• 2,382 ballots cast in 2022 as follows: ↑
  • 708 advance polling ↑
  • 41 of 63 mail-in ballot packages ↑
  • 1,035 View Royal Elementary ↓
  • 598 Eagle View Elementary ↑
• 2,244 ballots cast in 2018 as follows:
  • 597 advance polling
  • 5 of 8 mail-in ballot packages
  • 1,137 View Royal Elementary
  • 505 Eagle View Elementary

VOTER PARTICIPATION RATES:

VOTE TABULATORS:

• Owned machines serviced and tested extensively
• Issue with unit at View Royal Elementary
• CEO followed bylaw steps for such a circumstance – placed uncounted ballots into separate ballot box for machine counting later with unit that was operational
• Future elections will see switch to newer equipment

ELECTION SIGN ZONES:

• Introduced in 2022
• 10 zones
• Decision in May 2022 to “wait and see” re. enforcement provisions
• Reduced number of signs compared to prior years & to other areas
• Complaints received & followed-up
• Main issues were outside of zones and on streets

Options:

• #1 – Remove Election Signs
• #2 – Amend MTI Bylaw
• #3 – Change Nothing
• #4 – Remove Provision for Sign Zones

Option #1 – Remove Election Signs:

• Amend Election Procedures Bylaw No. 989 and Sign Bylaw No. 950 to remove provision for election signs
• Speaks to View Royal’s climate action commitment
• Removes expense of sign production
• Creates level playing field

Option #2 – Amend MTI Bylaw:

• Add schedule to permit ticketing to encourage bylaw compliance as detailed written requests to candidates not always successful in fall 2022

Option #3 – Change Nothing:

• Retain 10 election sign zones
• Add no enforcement tools
• If selected, staff propose no complaint follow-up be provided in future proceedings due to challenges to enforce without tools, only partial compliance and other calls for service
  • exception for safety concerns

Option #4 – Remove Provision for Election Sign Zones:

• Return to pre-2022 status:
  • No sign zones
  • No limitations on number of signs/candidate

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

• Option #1 – Remove Election Signs:
  • Bold statement of support for the environment
  • Levels playing field
  • Would apply to all election proceedings:
    • Federal
    • Provincial
    • Municipal/School Board
• If not Option #1, provide tool of Option #2 – Amend MTI Bylaw

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT, as part of the Town’s climate action commitment to mitigate climate change at the local level, Election Procedures Bylaw No. 989 and Sign Bylaw No. 950 be amended to remove provisions for election signs.