Election Information 2008

The Municipality of the District of Digby Vote 2008 logo

INTRODUCTION	October 18^th, 2008, is Election Day here in the Municipality of Digby. That is the day you get to choose who will represent you on Municipal Council and School Board. The Municipality is broken into five districts. Each district elects one councillor. The councillors than decide who amongst them who will be warden and deputy warden. Councillors are elected for a four-year terms. The total population of the Municipality is 7,986, according to the 2006 census. In addition to voting for Municipal Council, you also get to choose who represents you on School Board. There are two school board representatives elected from the area that includes the Municipality of Digby and the Town of Digby. Please take a look through the information we’ve provided on these webpages. It covers everything from who can vote, to what you must do in order to run. If you’d like more information, please feel free to contact the Municipal Returning Officer. Andy Moir Returning Officer, Municipality of Digby 245-4777 amoir@municipality.digby.ns.ca TOP
INFORMATION FOR VOTERS	1. Am I qualified to vote for municipal council? To vote for council, an elector must be 18 years of age on ordinary polling day (October 18, 2008) be a Canadian citizen have been ordinarily resident in the municipality for 3 months preceding ordinary polling day (since July 18, 2008), and continue to reside there on election day There are some disqualifications for voting; see the Municipal Elections Act* 2. Am I qualified to vote for school board? To vote for school board, an elector must be 18 years of age on ordinary polling day (October 18, 2008) be a Canadian citizen have been ordinarily resident in the school region for 3 months preceding ordinary polling day (since July 18, 2008), and continue to reside there on election day The school region is the area under the jurisdiction of the school board. 3. Am I qualified to vote for African Nova Scotian Member of a School Board? To vote for the African Nova Scotian member of a school board, an elector must be qualified to vote for the school board, and be an African Nova Scotian or a black person, or the parent or guardian of an African Nova Scotian or a black person 4. Am I qualified to vote for the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP)? To vote for CSAP, an elector must be qualified to vote for the school board, and be an "entitled person" within the meaning of the Education Act. An "entitled person" is a person who is a Canadian citizen and whose language first learned and still understood is French, or who received his or her primary school instruction in a French-first-language program, or of whom any child has received his or her primary school instruction in French-first-language program * Note: for the purposes of this provision, a person who is a guardian or acting in loco parentis to a child and who is not otherwise qualified to vote for CSAP is not an considered to be an entitled person. 5. How do I find out about elections in my municipality? Every municipality has a returning officer who administers the election in the municipality. Your municipal returning officer is your most important source of information about your municipal and school board elections. Call 245-4777 to contact the returning officer or the assistant returning officer. 6. What offices and other matters can I vote for on October 18th ? Because some municipal and school board offices may be acclaimed, there may not be a council or school board election in every municipal or school board district in the Province. To find out exactly what offices and matters you will be voting for in your polling district on election day, watch for the Notice of Poll which will appear in your local newspaper(s) following the close of nominations. Nomination Day is September 9, 2008. 7. How do I find out if I am on the voter's list? How do I get added to the voter’s list? Contact your returning officer. It is a simple process to be added to the list. 8. Can I vote if I am not on the voter's list? Yes, you can be added to the voter's list on election day or at the advance poll You must bring identification to the polling station. You can also be added to the list of electors by going the returning officer's office in your municipality between August 5th up to and including October 10th, 2008, and obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility from the returning officer. 9. What if I am going to be away on October 18th (election day)? *Advance Polls* - Electors who expect to be unable to vote on ordinary polling day (election day) can vote at the advance poll. There will be an advance poll on Tuesday, October 14th, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be a second advance poll on Saturday, October 11th. Watch for election advertising which will provide the details on the advance polls. Proxy Voting - Electors who cannot vote at a polling station because of illness, disability or absence from the municipality can apply to appoint a proxy voter. A proxy voter can vote on behalf of the elector who is unable to vote in person. In order to appoint a proxy voter, an elector must first apply to the returning officer in the municipality. To qualify, the elector must be on the list of electors, and must complete an application form. There are restrictions on who can be a proxy voter for someone else. The last day to apply for a proxy vote is October 10, 2008. Once an elector has appointed a proxy voter, the elector CANNOT vote in person, unless the proxy vote is cancelled. Contact your returning officer for an application form and information about proxy voting. 10. Where do I Vote? We will publish a notice to tell you where to vote in the Notice of Poll which will appear in a newspaper circulating in your area after nominations close on September 9th, 2008. If you are unsure, contact your returning officer in your municipality, or check your municipality. You must vote in the polling division where you are ordinarily resident on Election Day (October 18, 2008). TOP
KEY DATES	*2008 Municipal & School Board Elections - Key Dates* Information Packages (with Nomination Papers) Friday, August 8th, 2008 Revision of Voters List: August 1-29 (Contact returning officer) Last Day for Nominations: Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 Last Day for Candidate to Withdraw Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 Advance Polling Days First Advance Poll Saturday, October 11th, 2008 Polls open 12 noon to 8:00 pm Second Advance Poll Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 Polls open 12 noon to 8:00 pm Election Day Saturday, October 18th, 2008 Polls open 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Unofficial Results available Saturday evening, October 18th Official Addition Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 10:00 am Last Day to File Affidavit (re: removal of posters for return of full or part of deposit) Monday, October 27th, 2008 Last day to apply for a Recount Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 Last Day to File Campaign Contributions Disclosure Form Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 TOP
DISTRICT INFORMATION	*District 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 please click here note information in PDF** TOP
DISTRICT MAP	TOP
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES	Candidates guide to Municipal Elections (link to province) http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/muns/manuals/pdf/CandidateGuide.pdf Municipal Elections Act (link to province) http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/muncpel.htm Education Act (link to province) http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/eductn.htm SIGNAGE RULES From Nova Scotia Power: "Nova Scotia Power Inc. does not permit the unauthorized installation of signs, banners or posters on power poles. These attachments, as well as associated protruding nails and staples, pose a safety hazard to our power line technicians, as well as employees with other utilities, who work on these poles." Please contact Bobby Sutherland, Electrical Engineer, at (902) 428-6844 or email at bobby.sutherland@nspower.ca. From the Provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal: The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has established the following practice regarding election related signage to coincide with the new Advertising Sign Regulations dated July 15, 2001 near provincial roadways. Controlled Access Highways Election signs are not permitted within 1000 metres of the centre line of a controlled access highway. Election signs are not permitted within 60 metres of the end of ramps or controlled access connectors onto connector / non-contolled access highways. Non-Controlled Access Highways (Most Provincial Roads) Note: The following "common sense" constraints apply: Signs should not cause hazard by obstructing sight distance at intersections, parking lots, driveways and to posted traffic control signs; Signs should be behind ditch line or minimum three (3) metres behind curb; Sign erectors should have approval of adjacent property owner; Signs are not permitted to be attached to Department signs or guardrail / guide posts. Enforcement Procedure to be followed by TIR Staff The practice as stated will be enforced. If a large wooden sign (1.2 x 1.2 metres or larger) is found to be in violation of the policy, contact has to be made with the candidate's office to advise that the sign is in violation and has to be removed. For signs smaller than 1.2 x 1.2 metres, the candidate's office will not be contacted. For signs greater than 1.2 x 1.2 metres, the candidate's office will be advised that if the sign is not relocated within 24 hours, TIR staff will remove the sign. The sign will be taken down with as little damage as possible and stored at the local TIR base for retrieval by the appropriate person. For signs smaller than 1.2 x 1.2 metres, the sign should be removed and stored at the TIR base until the end of the election period or the appropriate person contacts the Base in regards to collecting signs that may have been taken down. TOP
CONTACT INFORMATION	Andy Moir Returning Officer Municipality of Digby Office: 245-4777 Home: 839-2337 Email: amoir@municipality.digby.ns.ca Marsha Lewis Deputy Returning Officer Municipality of Digby Office: 245-4777 Email: administration@municipality.digby.ns.ca TOP