Election bylaw approved by council
A draft General Election Bylaw was presented to executive committee Wednesday, outlining dates, spending and online registration plans for Regina's upcoming municipal election.
The Local Government Election Act requires the city outline such details before an election as a procedural step, said city clerk Jim Nichol. Members present voted unanimously in favour of the draft, which now goes to city council for final approval on April 24.
The 2024 campaign period will span five weeks ahead of the election date, according to the bylaw. The election is set for Nov. 13, with nominations for both city council and school board trustees to open on Sept. 25 and close Oct. 9.
The city clerk will function as the returning officer and official election results are to be delivered by 1 p.m. on Nov. 14. Two previous bylaws will be repealed and consolidated into one, in service of Elections Regina moving to a digital voter registry system this year.
A registered voter list will be compiled for the first time since 1988 and shared with Elections Saskatchewan. City council approved its implementation in September as a way to offer a “better voter experience,” since residents will only have to register once for both the municipal and provincial elections this fall.
Voters may still register in-person or at the polls, but will also have the option of doing so online ahead of election day. Early registration will be open until May 31, once the bylaw is approved. Also new is the ability for voters to apply for mail-in ballots online.
As for candidates, all will still be required to pay a $100-deposit with their nomination, a long-standing practice to “deter frivolous applicants.” Names will be listed in alphabetical order, and occupations not included on the ballot.
“This is meant to be fair, open and transparent, and a candidate can put anything they want in their campaign (but) in terms of the ballot, it is expected to be as neutral and non-partisan as possible,” said Nichol, when asked why.
The bylaw also sets spending limits in line with the existing Regina Municipal Elections Expenses Bylaw, which says caps must be increased year-to-year to keep pace with the Consumer Price Index.
For city council candidates running this fall, campaign spending will max out at $12,236. Mayoral candidates may spend up to $78,329. Rules surrounding the disclosure of campaign donations once elected will remain as written.
Regina's election has a set budget of $1.2 million, similar to what was spent in 2020. School boards will shoulder half the cost.
Nichol said the expectation is that expenses to incorporate new technology and a voters list will be offset by the need for fewer workers at the polls.
Rolling out an online registration system was budgeted at about $85,000 when approved. City staff say the switch to digital voter cards should save $90,000 in postage.