2018 MUNICIPAL ELECTION Candidate Information Meeting June 27, 2018 6:00 – 8:00 PM Markham Civic Centre Canada Room
Agenda 1. Introduction & General Overview 2. Candidate Responsibilities 3. Candidate Contribution Rebate Program (CCRP) 4. Election Sign Regulations 5. Markham’s 2018 Election Model 6. Markham’s Online Voting Program 7. Markham’s In-Person Paper Ballot Program (with Vote Tabulators) 8. Election Communications & Community Engagement 9. Questions
Before We Start…. • What are your top 3 questions for our “parking lot”? • If your questions have not been answered over the course of this presentation, we will re-visit them or provide the information via e- mail. • Your feedback is important! Please complete our Comment Sheet at the conclusion of the session.
Section 1 INTRODUCTION & GENERAL OVERVIEW
Markham’s Election Team • Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk (ext. 4729) • Martha Pettit, Deputy Clerk (ext. 8220) • Carlie Turpin, Manager, Elections (ext. 2083) • Chris Alexander, Acting Manager, By-law Enforcement & Licensing (ext. 2128) • Scott Chapman, Grace Lombardi & Abid Mirza, Election Assistants General Information (905) 477-7000, ext. VOTE (8683) •
Legislative Framework Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) • This Provincial legislation governs all municipal elections & by- elections in Ontario. • Principles inherent in the Act include: o Secrecy & confidentiality of vote is paramount; & o Election must be fair & unbiased & accessible to all voters; & o The integrity of the process must be maintained throughout the election; & o There should be certainty of results; voters & candidates should be treated fairly & consistently.
Role of City Clerk • The City Clerk is the Returning Officer & responsible for conducting municipal & school board elections & by-elections (Section 11, MEA). • Prepares for Voting Day, maintains peace & order, conducts recounts, etc. • Role of Clerk is statutory function - responsibility & accountability rests with the City Clerk alone. • The City Clerk may provide for any matter or procedure that is not otherwise provided for in the MEA & in the City Clerk’s opinion is desirable for conducting the election (Section 12, MEA).
City Wards City of Markham Ward Map
Municipal Offices Municipal Offices to be Elected • Office of Mayor (1 to be elected on City-wide basis) • Office of Regional Councillor (4 to be elected on City-wide basis) • Office of Ward Councillor (1 to be elected from each of the 8 Wards). • Office of Regional Chair (1 to be elected on Region wide basis)
School Board Offices School Board Offices to be Elected York Region District School Board • Area 1 – Markham Ward 1 & Vaughan Ward 5 • Area 2 – Wards 2, 3 & 6 • Area 3 – Wards 4 & 5 • Area 4 – Wards 7 & 8 York Catholic District School Board • Area 1 – Wards 1, 2, 3 & 6 • Area 2 – Wards 4, 5, 7 & 8 Le Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French Public) Le Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Separate)
Term of Office • Successful candidates in the 2018 Municipal Election are elected for a 4 year term that ends November 14, 2022. • Candidates must maintain their eligibility for the duration of the 4 year term.
Important Dates KEY DATES NOMINATION DAY – Nominations close on July 27 th Nomination Period begins - May 1, 2018, file with Clerk during regular business hours (8am-5pm); at 2 PM last day to file July 27, 2018 (between 9 AM & 2 PM) July 30, 2018 Nominations Certified by Returning Officer July 30, 2018 Returning Officer announces Acclamations (if any) September 4, 2018 Voters’ List available for candidates September 24, 2018 Election Signs can now be erected in Markham September 24, 2018 VIP Letters mailed out to all eligible voters September 25, 2018 Returning Officer to provide Final Maximum Campaign Expenses to all certified candidates October 12, 2018 Voting Period Begins – Online & Paper Ballot
Important Dates (Cont’d) KEY DATES October 12 – 19 Voting Period for Paper ballots only October 12 – 22 Voting Period for Online ballots October 22, 2018 Online Voting Only – Voter Assistance Centres open October 23 - 25 Proposed Declaration of Official Results October 25, 2018 Election Signs to be removed by end of day December 31, 2018 End of Campaign Period & last day to request extension to continue campaign if deficit present March 29, 2019 at 2pm Financial filing deadline for all candidates regardless if they requested extension or not
Municipal Voters’ List • In accordance with the MEA, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is responsible for providing the City with the Voters’ List. • The List contains the names & addresses of eligible Markham voters. • A voter’s name should only appear once on the List. • A voter is entitled to vote only in the Ward in which they live – even if they own multiple properties in Markham. The onus is on the voter to comply with the law! • Voters’ List may be used for election purposes only.
Voters’ List (Cont’d) • Typical Voters’ List errors: • Someone has recently moved to or within Markham • Someone was not 18 years of age at the time MPAC produced the List • Someone was not a Canadian citizen at the time MPAC produced the List • Eligible Markham voters can revise the Voters’ List - either online or in-person - between Tuesday, September 4 & Monday, October 22. • In-person Voters’ List revisions will be available: • At several planned “Revision Events” to be held in City Community Centres across Markham. • At special events such as Apple Fest, Children’s Festival & Canada Day. • On an ongoing basis at all City Libraries during regular operating hours.
Voter Information Package (VIP) • The VIP will be sent to each eligible voter listed on the Voters’ List the week of September 24, 2018 . • The VIP will outline: – Voting dates for both paper & online voting. – Directions on how to cast an online ballot. – Direction on how to obtain assistance from an Election Office to online vote. • The VIP does not constitute identification!
Accessibility • Legislative requirements for accessibility in municipal elections are contained in the MEA & the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). • The City Clerk must consider the needs of voters & candidates with disabilities in creating the election model & is required to prepare a Plan on the identification, removal & prevention of barriers that affect same (Section 12 MEA). • This Plan will be available to the public before voting begins. Within 90 days of the end of voting, the City Clerk must prepare a report about the success of the Plan & make this publically available (Section 12 MEA).
Accessibility (Cont’d) • Markham Election staff consult with the City’s Accessibility Advisory & Race Relations Committees on the 2018 Election Model. • All Early Voting Places (for paper ballots) being used between October 12-19, 2018 & all 12 Voter Assistance Centres being used on October 22, 2018 are accessible & welcome service animals. • All Early Voting Places (for paper ballots) will be equipped with special ballot marking equipment to allow voters to cast a ballot independently. • Other assistive tools available include: Magnifying sheets & pen grips available at all Early Voting Places. Ability to request help from a friend or an Election Official to mark a ballot.
Language Support • Under the MEA, notices, forms & other information provided under the MEA shall be made available in English only unless authorized by Markham City Council (Section 9, MEA). • Council passed a by-law to allow for election information to be provided in languages other than English. • In the 2018 Municipal Election, key voter information such as frequently asked questions, how to mark the ballot & the VIP letter will be translated into: Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), French, Persian, Punjabi, Tamil & Urdu (the top most spoken languages in Markham other than English).
Language Support (Cont’d) • Interpretation also available through City’s language line via 905- 477-7000, ext. VOTE (8683). • Election officials with language skills have been recruited for their language skills.
Compliance Audit Committee • An eligible voter who believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate has contravened the campaign finance rules contained in the MEA may apply for a compliance audit of the candidate’s campaign finances – even if the candidate has not filed a financial statement (Section 88, MEA). • As required by the MEA, the City of Markham is required to establish a Compliance Audit Committee to consider requests for audits of candidates’ campaign finances. The Committee shall be composed of no fewer than 3 members. • For the 2018 Municipal Election, all municipalities in York Region are participating in a Joint Compliance Audit Committee (JCAC) - this approach ensures consistency across the Region in terms of the review & consideration of Compliance Audit Applications. • The JCAC may be required to appoint an auditor & to determine if legal proceedings are required as a result of its review.
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