The city of St. Albert has put out its call looking for anyone who wants to help ensure the wheels of democracy turn smoothly on Oct. 21.
Posted last week on its website under Career Opportunities, the city is looking for deputy returning officers, technical returning officers and election greeters. The deadline to apply is Aug. 21.
Hiring those workers is just a small part of the preparations for the election, which has been underway since 2012.
“We’re well under way,” said Chris Belke, St. Albert’s chief legislative officer and the returning office for the election. “We’ve been planning for the election pretty much a year ahead of the election so we are well into it now.”
Anyone who is selected to work on election day will be required to attend a day of training, but they will be paid for it. The salary for working election day is $210 for deputy returning officers, $185 for technical returning officers and $160 for greeters. But be prepared to earn it, Belke said.
“If they are working election day, it is a very long day,” Belke said. “Voting stations open at 8 a.m. and don’t close until 8 p.m. There’s lots going on and it’s an opportunity involved in helping us deliver the election prepared for residents, which is a key part of the election.
Belke said approximately 130 people will be needed make sure Oct. 21 runs smoothly.
Outside of finding staff, Belke said the polling stations have been selected. There will be a total of nine citywide for electors. A list is available at www.stalbert.ca/election
Tentative dates for advance voting have also been set for Oct. 10, 12, 15, 17 and 19 for voters who will not be able to vote on Oct. 21. Two institutional voting days, which will see election staff visit seniors’ facilities and the Sturgeon Community Hospital, have also been scheduled.
Special ballots will also be available for anyone who will not be able to vote at any of the advance polls or on election day, Belke said. Council had considered eliminating them as they cost $15 each and are only used by a few dozen voters, but decided to keep them.
Belke said while there are people who have announced their intent to run for office, no one is officially considered a candidate until they file their papers on the morning of Sept. 23.
“Until that happens, no one knows for sure who is running.”
