Volunteers needed for upcoming election

Posted on: jamacsadmin

 Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter
 
It’s almost time to choose the next Progressive Conservative (PC) leader, and volunteers are still needed to help man the polling stations. 
There are two shifts each day; one from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the other from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
“We encourage people to get involved in the democratic process. Memberships will be available at the door, anybody can buy a membership,” said George Pinchbeck, assistant deputy returning officer for Strathmore.
A PC membership is not needed in order to volunteer, but it is necessary to be able to vote. Someone will be stamping the memberships making sure no one votes more than once. 
Some of the spots Pinchbeck is looking to fill are for greeter and crowd control, membership sales, ballot box supervisor, computer operation and more.
The advance poll will take place Sept. 13, with the first ballot election coming on Sept. 17. The second advance poll is Sept. 27, with the second ballot election scheduled for Oct. 1.  
“There are six candidates so if somebody gets the majority of the votes, over 50 per cent, then they’re elected,” said Pinchbeck. 
“But chances are they won’t get over 50 per cent, and they take the top three after that. Then they have another ballot two weeks later, on the first of October. That’s a preferential ballot where they vote one or two.”
Pinchbeck said if it goes to the preferential ballot then the first choices will be counted, and somebody may have a majority on the first choice. If not, then the second ballots are counted and added to them. 
“We just put our results from our poll in with the other two polls here in Strathmore, Brooks constituency. I send it to the deputy returning officer at Brooks, then she sends the results in to the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) for Alberta,” said Pinchbeck. 
Every constituency in Alberta will also be busy sending their results in to the CRO to determine who exactly has won the election. To find out more information, and to volunteer your time call George Pinchbeck at 403-934-3056.