City elections office forms contingency plan for voter cards, special ballots due to postal strike

Edmonton Elections is working on solutions to minimize the impact of a Canada Post strike with the municipal election less than three weeks away.

The City of Edmonton’s elections office is providing alternate ways for voters to find information for the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 20.

That includes ways to find out where they can vote, identification requirements and the handling of special ballots.

Residents can find an online ‘Where To Vote’ tool and information on ID requirements on the city’s website.

Aileen Giesbrecht, a city clerk and returning officer with Edmonton Elections, told media on Wednesday it is unlikely that residents will receive voter information cards in the mail due to the postal strike. There are more than 650,000 Edmontonians currently on the permanent electors list.

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There are 12 advanced voting stations across the city, one in each ward. The city will have 222 voting stations and stations at seniors’ facilities, post-secondary institutions and hospitals on Oct. 20.

Those wanting to use special ballots can contact the Edmonton Elections office to change their delivery method to ‘pick up’ from ‘mail’ and fill out the package on-site or return it by 7 p.m. on election day.

Special ballots are open to any eligible voter who’s unable to vote on Oct. 20 or during the advanced voting period, which ends Oct. 7.

The Edmonton Elections office, located in the city’s west end, is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

The city said it’s making alternate arrangements to get special ballots to people who can’t go in person to pick them up.

Edmonton Elections is also increasing its communications efforts, including more digital ads and advertising on social media and digital billboards.