On Monday, May 4, 2020, Pelham Council voted to fill the vacant seat in Ward 1 via by-election; the election will occur in the fall. The other option for filling the vacant seat was by appointment. Only residents within Ward 1 will be eligible to vote, while any qualified elector in Pelham can register as a candidate.

The vote to declare a by-election is permissible under Section 263(5) of the Municipal Act and must be enacted within 60 days of the seat being declared vacant. Nomination day must not be less than 30 days after the enactment and no more than 60. Voting shall then be 45 days after nomination day. These deadlines are subject to extensions as permitted by the Provincial Orders issued during the current pandemic, and under the Municipal Elections Act in the event of an emergency.

“A by-election during this pandemic will not be without its challenges, but our staff will ensure that a by-election is completed safely and securely,” said Town Clerk Nancy Bozzato. “As the process unfolds, we will ensure the community is kept apprised of the steps required for nominees and voters.”

Specific health and safety precautions will be developed and incorporated to run the by-election, ensuring physical distancing is maintained throughout the process if the pandemic is not yet concluded. Town officials will monitor the situation and adjust to the changing pandemic landscape accordingly.

Conducting a by-election is optimal in achieving representative democracy. A by-election must be conducted under the Municipal Elections Act in the same way as the 2018 election. This means that the Clerk is required to schedule advance polling opportunities and conduct at least one polling station voting on election day. In Ward 1, during a regular election, two polling stations are traditionally utilized.

The cost of a by-election is estimated between $10,000 and $15,000 in addition to soft costs related to staffing; the Election Reserve would accommodate this expense.

As information such as dates, timelines, and candidate information becomes available, it will be posted the Town’s website at: www.pelham.ca/by-election-2020