I believe it is necessary to dispel the half truths in the letter from Rocky View Reeve Greg Boehlke, presumably written on behalf of the council majority.
The good Reeve assures residents the current election process is secure as voters must "sign a legal voter registration form." Correct, but he has omitted the relevant point - nobody checks those voter registration forms. It is true as he further states: "Anyone voting when they are not entitled can be fined or imprisoned" but since there is no verification of the forms the fear of fines or imprisonment is reduced to zero.
He further states the usefulness of a voters’ list is "highly questionable.” Perhaps he should tell that to those running any of the provincial elections, the federal election, the American elections, the European elections and/or elections in all other democratic jurisdictions. From the United Nations: "Voter registration is intended to ensure that everyone entitled to vote can do so, to prevent ineligible persons from voting, and to guard against multiple voting by the same individual. "
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/publication/Chapter4.htm
Under "How do I know the voting process is secure?" Elections Alberta plainly states: "The List of Electors is developed to restrict voting to those who are entitled, as well as to restrict each voter to only one vote."
http://www.elections.ab.ca/voters/faq/
The Reeve goes on to illustrate the deficiency of the system used in the rest of the civilized world: "People move, die, become citizens, reach voting age, get married, etc., all of which impacts the accuracy of a voters list." Surely he must know there are full provisions for such cases.
"We (Council) also voted to lobby the province to more freely share their voter information." That is true although specifically it means Rocky View will ask the provincial association of rural municipalities to in turn ask the provincial government to do so. The resolution from Rocky View will be brought forward in mid November. Municipal Affairs ("the province") has been studying possible changes to the elections act for well over a year. Its report is due in early December. Any resolution submitted two weeks beforehand, especially through a third party, is either a less than sincere attempt or at best the case of "too little, too late".
Reeve Boehlke goes on to state Rocky View "has a long history of clean elections". He could be correct but it is rather curious he would know that as the above-mentioned voter registration forms have never been checked.
Council claimed a voters’ list would cost $200,000 and thereby refused it in the name of financial responsibility. It is possible, although very unlikely, it could cost that much. Even in such a worst-case scenario, the projected cost for a council approved but marginally useful "enhanced" system ($40,000) must be subtracted from $200,000. To put that in perspective, the difference of $160,000 is one-third of onr percent of the budgeted amount of the new administrative building – even less if the millions previously spent on the admin building are included.
Rocky View’s stance on the issue flies in the face of the practice, procedures and governance models of all Canadian provinces and American states, the US and Canadian federal governments, the Europeans, worldwide democratic jurisdictions, Elections Alberta and the UN.
It’s quite the stretch to believe Rocky View "knows better.”
Jerry Arshinoff
Councillor, Division 2 (Springbank)
Rocky View County
