Resolution No. 9-05A

WHEREAS, The Rural Municipality Act, 1989 provides for assisting an incapacitated voter to vote in the polling place, but does not provide for curbside voting for disabled people who may not be able to enter the polling place; and

WHEREAS, this may prevent some voters from being able to vote in rural municipal elections;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to include a provision for curbside voting in legislation governing rural municipal elections.

Response from Honourable Len Taylor, Minister of Government Relations:

Currently, The Rural Municipality Act, 1989 provides for assisting an incapacitated voter in the polling place, but does not provide for curbside voting for disabled people who may not be able to enter a polling place. Section 22.2 of The Local Government Election Act (LGEA) provides the authority for election officials conducting an urban or school board election to conduct curbside voting in situations where an elector is unable to enter the polling area due to a physical disability or limited mobility.

The Department of Government Relations (GR) is currently proposing amendments that would incorporate rural election procedures into the LGEA as a result of the introduction of The Municipalities Act. As part of the amendments that would incorporate the rural election procedures into the LGEA, GR has included a provision that would allow for curbside voting in RM elections. The amendments being added to the rural election provisions are similar to those that currently exist in section 22.2 of the LGEA with respect to procedures regarding curbside voting.