Articles
General · 4th August 2011
Electoral Officer
Hi everybody, me again. I bet you thought you got rid of me for a couple of years, didn’t you? I thought so too, but because Ken Brown resigned as Chief on July 11, 2011, a by-election to elect a new chief will be held on October 15, 2011.
What is the difference between a by-election and general/regular election?
A by-election is the same as a general election except for two important differences:
1. A general election involves all the seats on the Council. A by-election involves only some of the seats, or just one seat, as in the present case. You will be asked to vote for one candidate only - for Chief.
2. In a general election, candidates are elected for a full two-year term. In a by-election, the candidate(s) elected will serve only the balance of the term until the next general election. In other words, the person elected as Chief on October 15 will take office immediately and their term will expire at the same time as the rest of the Council on April 9, 2013.
Other than that, all the documents and procedures will be exactly the same as they were for the general election in April. You’ve seen in all before, no surprises.
Are you on the voters list?
The voters list has been publicly posted at the KFN office at Squirrel Cove. Any voter has the right to inspect it. Every candidate will receive a copy of it as well. If you can’t go look at the list in person but you want to make sure you are on the voters list and that your name is correctly spelled, etc., please contact me.
Are you on the mailing list?
If you live off-Reserve, you can receive all the election notices plus a voting package in the mail. But that only works if I have your address! The Notice of Nominations was mailed to 136 voters today, July 28. If you live off-Reserve and you haven’t received that notice in the mail by August 8, it’s probably because I don’t have your address.
If you live off-Reserve and you want to receive your election mail, make sure I have your address. If you know other off-Reserve voters who did not receive the Notice of Nominations, encourage them to call me to give me their addresses. They have to do this themselves - you can’t do it for them. All it takes is a two-minute phone call - and it’s FREE! Besides, hearing from voters is the most fun part of my job.
There are always people who don’t get to vote because they didn’t get in touch with me in time. Don’t be left out!
Where will you be on October 15?
If you live off-Reserve and I have your mailing address, I will automatically send you a mail-in ballot on September 9. But there are always other people who will need to vote by mail for a variety of reasons.
For example, are you a student going away to school in September? Do you work in camp? Do you work different shifts that change all the time? Will you be away for medical reasons?
If you will not be able to vote in person at Squirrel Cove on October 15, make sure you request a mail-in ballot. Even if you think you might not be able to get there, be on the safe side - request a mail-in ballot and use it. Don’t take the chance of not voting at all!
If you want to get a mail-in ballot, you MUST make the request yourself. You CANNOT ask for a ballot for somebody else, even if it’s a member of your family or your household.
Voting is your RIGHT. But it is also every individual’s responsibility to help me make voting services available to you. I’m not a mind-reader and I can’t perform miracles.
Please don’t wait until it’s almost election day and then suddenly realize that you won’t be able to get to the poll to vote. I will not be able to do anything for you if you wait until the last minute.
Do you have questions?
If there is anything you would like to know about election documents or procedures, I hope you will ask me. You can phone me toll-free or send me an email. When you communicate with me, it’s always in confidence.
Also, if you have suggestions for election-related information that you would like to see on the website, just let me know.
For example, I have been asked to explain about scrutineers - who are they, why are they there and what exactly are they supposed to be doing? Excellent questions. I will answer that in the next HELLO VOTERS! and post it soon.
I have also been asked where you can read the election regulations for yourself. Here are the links:
1. Indian Act: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-5/FullText.html Sections 72-79 govern elections.
2. Indian Band Election Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._952/FullText.html
Keep those questions coming!
Shira Lee Kredentser, Electoral Officer
phone toll-free: 877-922-0928
Email: shirakshaw.ca
See printable PDF version below...
What is the difference between a by-election and general/regular election?
A by-election is the same as a general election except for two important differences:
1. A general election involves all the seats on the Council. A by-election involves only some of the seats, or just one seat, as in the present case. You will be asked to vote for one candidate only - for Chief.
2. In a general election, candidates are elected for a full two-year term. In a by-election, the candidate(s) elected will serve only the balance of the term until the next general election. In other words, the person elected as Chief on October 15 will take office immediately and their term will expire at the same time as the rest of the Council on April 9, 2013.
Other than that, all the documents and procedures will be exactly the same as they were for the general election in April. You’ve seen in all before, no surprises.
Are you on the voters list?
The voters list has been publicly posted at the KFN office at Squirrel Cove. Any voter has the right to inspect it. Every candidate will receive a copy of it as well. If you can’t go look at the list in person but you want to make sure you are on the voters list and that your name is correctly spelled, etc., please contact me.
Are you on the mailing list?
If you live off-Reserve, you can receive all the election notices plus a voting package in the mail. But that only works if I have your address! The Notice of Nominations was mailed to 136 voters today, July 28. If you live off-Reserve and you haven’t received that notice in the mail by August 8, it’s probably because I don’t have your address.
If you live off-Reserve and you want to receive your election mail, make sure I have your address. If you know other off-Reserve voters who did not receive the Notice of Nominations, encourage them to call me to give me their addresses. They have to do this themselves - you can’t do it for them. All it takes is a two-minute phone call - and it’s FREE! Besides, hearing from voters is the most fun part of my job.
There are always people who don’t get to vote because they didn’t get in touch with me in time. Don’t be left out!
Where will you be on October 15?
If you live off-Reserve and I have your mailing address, I will automatically send you a mail-in ballot on September 9. But there are always other people who will need to vote by mail for a variety of reasons.
For example, are you a student going away to school in September? Do you work in camp? Do you work different shifts that change all the time? Will you be away for medical reasons?
If you will not be able to vote in person at Squirrel Cove on October 15, make sure you request a mail-in ballot. Even if you think you might not be able to get there, be on the safe side - request a mail-in ballot and use it. Don’t take the chance of not voting at all!
If you want to get a mail-in ballot, you MUST make the request yourself. You CANNOT ask for a ballot for somebody else, even if it’s a member of your family or your household.
Voting is your RIGHT. But it is also every individual’s responsibility to help me make voting services available to you. I’m not a mind-reader and I can’t perform miracles.
Please don’t wait until it’s almost election day and then suddenly realize that you won’t be able to get to the poll to vote. I will not be able to do anything for you if you wait until the last minute.
Do you have questions?
If there is anything you would like to know about election documents or procedures, I hope you will ask me. You can phone me toll-free or send me an email. When you communicate with me, it’s always in confidence.
Also, if you have suggestions for election-related information that you would like to see on the website, just let me know.
For example, I have been asked to explain about scrutineers - who are they, why are they there and what exactly are they supposed to be doing? Excellent questions. I will answer that in the next HELLO VOTERS! and post it soon.
I have also been asked where you can read the election regulations for yourself. Here are the links:
1. Indian Act: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-5/FullText.html Sections 72-79 govern elections.
2. Indian Band Election Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._952/FullText.html
Keep those questions coming!
Shira Lee Kredentser, Electoral Officer
phone toll-free: 877-922-0928
Email: shirakshaw.ca
See printable PDF version below...
(Hello_Voters.Electoral_Officer.pdf)