How are Provincial Representatives Elected?
An election is a formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position. Provincial elections are held at least every five years. When an election is announced, voting takes place 28 days letter.
Provincial Electoral Process
Step 1: NominatingMost provincial candidates belong to political parties. Only one candidate per party can run in a constituency. Often, several people from the same party want to run in the same constituency. Then, the party members in the constituency must choose their candidate in a vote.
Step 3: Preparing the Polling StationsThe Chief Electoral Officer is a person who works for the Legislative Assembly and makes sure the law is followed.
Each constituency is divided into polls (voting sites). The Chief Electoral Officer makes sure every poll has a list of registered voters. When voters come to a poll, elected officials check their names against the list and cross them off. The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for training election officials and making sure they have the right ballots for their polls. Step 5: Casting and Counting VotesAdvance polls are provided for voters who will be away or busy on election day. At each poll, an empty ballot box is displayed and locked, and two officials are in charge of watching it, so nobody stuffs in extra votes. Other officials make sure everyone votes only once. People in nursing homes and hospitals who cannot get out to vote have ballot boxes carried to their bedsides. Further, armed forces have their ballots sent to them ahead of voting day.
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Step 2: CampaigningCandidates set up campaign offices. Campaign offices get information about their candidates to the voters. Volunteers phone voters, deliver campaign literature door to door, set up signs, and answer questions by email. They arrange interviews with media reporters investigating the views of their candidate on topics of concern.
Step 4: Showing Eligibility to VoteTo vote in a provincial election, a person must be 18 years old and have lived in Alberta for at least six months. Voters must also live in the constituency where they cast their vote. Voters can register with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer at any time. If they want to register on election day: they must provide two pieces of identification and take an oath.
Step 6: Declaring the OutcomeWhen the polls close the votes are counted. Each ballot can only have one candidate marked as a choice. Ballots marked with more than one choice are considered spoiled and are not counted.
The polling stations send their vote counts to an electoral office in their constituency. When all the votes are counted, the office declares a winner. Television cameras record the announcement of the winners as the results come in. The party with the majority of the votes will form the government. Sometimes the winning party is known early on in the counting; at other times, everybody must wait until the end. In any constituency, a recount can be called if the numbers are very close, and this can cause delays in knowing who has won a seat. When the winning party is finally declared, so is the premier. The premier of the province is always the leader of the party with the most seats. |
What's the Difference Between Local & Provincial Governments?
Nominating for Provincial Elections
Campaigning for Provincial Elections
Services Provided by the Provincial Government
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Nominating for Local Elections
Campaigning for Local Elections
Services Provided by the Local Government
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