If you’re an Albertan, political parties are coming to a municipality near you.
The Alberta government tabled Bill 20, also known as the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act in the legislature on Thursday.
The bill introduces sweeping changes to the Local Authorities Election Act and Municipal Government Act.
“Our government is committed to strengthening Albertans’ trust in their local government and the democratic process that elects local leaders,” said Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver.
One of the most notable changes is the introduction of political parties at the municipal level. The pilot project for local political parties will occur in Edmonton and Calgary during the next municipal election. Other jurisdictions like Vancouver and Montreal already allow for political parties to exist at the local level.
Local candidates are not required to join a political party but will be allowed to do so or run as independents.
While specific regulations are yet to be introduced, these municipal political parties must have zero affiliation with provincial or federal parties. They cannot share resources, such as mailing lists or funding lists, with these parties. Any violations will result in penalties.
Each municipal party will represent only its municipality. For example, a political party in Edmonton would have no connection to one in Calgary.
However, the changes only make political parties official at the local level, considering people running for municipal government were always free to affiliate with political parties. With the new changes, the party affiliation will appear on the ballot.
The amendments will create the regulatory authority for the government to define local political parties and for the parties to register with municipalities. Once this occurs, municipalities will be required to include a candidate’s political party on the ballot for municipal elections.
All automated voting equipment, such as electronic tabulators, will be prohibited in municipal elections. Votes will be required to be tabulated by hand.
“The changes we are making increase transparency for Alberta voters and provide surety their votes will be counted accurately,” said McIver.
True North previously reported that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith promised to ban electronic vote tabulators in provincial elections.
Calgary has used electronic tabulators in past municipal elections, which did not necessarily lead to quicker vote counting.
Currently, special ballots, or mail-in ballots, for municipal elections can only be requested for specific reasons, such as physical disability, absence from the municipality, or for municipal elections workers. Bill 20 will expand the use of special ballots while strengthening its processes.
To strengthen the special ballot processes, scrutineers will be required to oversee the counting of these ballots.
Any Albertan on the permanent elections register can request access to a special ballot.
Municipalities will have to create a permanent electors register, aligning with the most recent provincial register of electors. Municipalities will work with Elections Alberta to ensure that lists are consistent and can be used for both municipal and provincial elections.
Residents do not need to be on the register to vote, provided they show adequate identification proving their identity and residence.
Electors can no longer vouch for a person’s identity or citizenship, should they fail to provide documentation, but can vouch to verify an elector’s residence.
One update to the Local Authorities Election Act will allow voters waiting in line when polling stations close to still cast their vote. No person who was waiting in line before the closing of a voting station will be denied the ability to vote, however, no new voters will be allowed to join the queue after the poll closes.
Bill 20 grants Cabinet the ability to remove a councillor if it is in the public interest or to order a vote for residents to remove councillors.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs will become responsible for validating municipal recall petitions. It was previously the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer, which created a conflict of interest because the councillors are technically the CAO’s bosses.
Municipalities will be able to require a criminal record check for candidates. This check would be a part of a candidate’s nomination package, which is publicly available data. The criminal record check is an option for municipalities, and some who already struggle to find enough candidates to run may choose to forego the process.
The sweeping changes are among the broadest since 1994 when the Municipal Government Act was brought in and changed things significantly. Other changes to modernize the Act were also introduced in 2016.