The next civic election, a municipal by-election, will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 2007.  The City of Melfort has issued a call for nominations of candidates for the office of Councillor (1 to be elected).  Nomination forms are available at City Hall.  The deadline for filing nomination papers with the Returning Officer or her designate is 4:00 p.m. on Nomination Day:  Wednesday, September 12, 2007.

A person is qualified to be nominated as a candidate for the position of Mayor or Councillor if that person:

1.         is at least eighteen (18) years of age or older on election day; and

2.         is, at the time he or she submits the nomination paper:
            (a)        a Canadian citizen, and
            (b)        has resided in the City of Melfort for at least three months, and
            (c)        has resided in the Province of Saskatchewan for at least six months.

None of the following persons are eligible to be nominated or elected to hold office as a member of council:

1. a judge of a court, or
2. an auditor or solicitor of the municipality.

Application:

Nomination papers for all offices may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall.  To be nominated for an elected position a person must file a nomination paper with the Returning Officer or the Associate Returning Officer, or his/her designate, either personally, or by agent during the specified nomination period.

Requirements:

1. The nomination paper must state the name and address of the person being nominated and the office for which they are being nominated.
2. For the office of Mayor, the application must be signed by at least five (5) electors of the City accompanied by the name and address of each nominator.
3. For the position of Councillor, the application must be signed by at least five (5) electors of the City, accompanied by the name and address of each nominator.
4. The nomination paper is not valid unless the candidate’s acceptance statement is signed by the person being nominated and witnessed by two persons.

Relevant Provisions:

1. Only one person can be nominated for the election on each nomination paper.
2. An elector may sign the nomination papers of more than one person.
3. No candidate can nominate himself/herself.
4. The onus to file a bona fide nomination paper is on the person being nominated.
5. No person can be nominated as both Mayor and Councillor of the City.
6. A receipt for nomination will be issued at the time the form is filed at City Hall.

Filing of Nomination Papers:

Nomination papers may be filed with the Returning Officer or her designate at the Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 202 Burrows Avenue West at any time during normal office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) from Tuesday, August 28, 2007, to Tuesday, September 11, 2007, and on Nomination Day – Wednesday, September 12, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., when nominations close. 

Withdrawal of Nomination:

A person is qualified to vote in a municipal election for the offices of Mayor and/or Councillor if that person:

1. is at least eighteen (18) years of age or older on election day; and
2. is a Canadian citizen (on election day); and
3. is a Saskatchewan resident and has so resided for at least six (6) months prior to election day; and
4. is a resident of the City of Melfort and has so resided for at least three (3) months prior to election day;    OR    is the owner of assessable land in the City and has been so for at least three (3) months prior to election day.

The following is a summary of the rules of residence, as set out in The Local Government Election Act:

Rule #1:           The residence of a person is the place at which he or she resides and to which, when he or she is absent from that place, that person has the intention of returning.

Rule #2:           A person who is temporarily absent from their normal place of residence does not lose that place as their residence until such time as he or she has acquired another residence.

Rule #3:           No person has more than one residence in the province and, if he or she has more than one home in the province, he or she shall elect one home as his or her residence.

Although the general rule is “one vote per voter”, one exception to this rule occurs where a person is a qualified elector of a municipality in which he or she resides and is an elector of another Saskatchewan municipality in which he or she has been the owner of assessable land for at least three months, immediately prior to election day.  This person may vote in both municipalities.

The advance poll is available for voters who are physically disabled, have been appointed as election officials or anticipate being unable to vote on Election Day. The advance poll will be conducted on the following dates:

Election Day is Wednesday, October 10, 2007. All regular polls will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Electors must vote at the poll that is designated for their home address.

The City of Melfort is divided into four polling subdivisions.

Please click on the attached Map of Polling Subdivisions to determine your poll location.

Election results will be officially declared by the Returning Officer at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 11, 2007.

The election information presented in this website is intended for guidance only. Readers are advised to consult The Local Government Election Act for interpretation of the law.