Nomination period for prospective candidates in Victoria’s byelection opens Tuesday

The nomination period for prospective candidates in Victoria’s 2020 byelection opened at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

In a press release from the City of Victoria, it highlights that prospective candidates can obtain a “Candidate Nomination Form” by contacting the Legislative Services Office at Victoria City Hall at 250.361.0571 or by visiting elections@victoria.ca. Due to COVID-19, City Hall offices remain closed to the public.

Completed forms can be filed during the nomination period by making an in-person appointment with Legislative Services or by filing via e-mail

The window for nominations will remain open until 4 p.m. on Friday, November 6.

The City of Victoria says that voters will be electing one councillor on General Voting Day, which is currently scheduled for Saturday, December 12. Voters will be filling the position that became vacant when Laurel Collins resigned from Victoria City Council in November 2019.

Only eligible candidates who have filed their papers by the close of nomination will be included on the ballot.

The candidates for the byelection will be declared no later than Monday, November 16, 2020, at 4 p.m. and a Candidate Profile Guide will be made available on the City’s website by November 17, says the City of Victoria.

Victoria’s byelection, which was originally scheduled for Apr. 4 was cancelled to protect residents from COVID-19.

On July 29, the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing released guidelines to help local governments plan how to safely hold by-elections that were deferred due to the pandemic.

In a report submitted to council, city staff outlined how a byelection could take place on Dec. 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the appropriate safety precautions, staffing, legislative changes and budget, it is possible to address public health concerns related to voting,” staff wrote.

“Instrumental to that will be adapting typical voting procedures at voting locations and expanding mail ballot voting to ensure that voters who are not comfortable attending in person have another option. Safety and operational plans will provide safeguards for in-person voting for electors and election workers”

According to city staff, some of the new measures that would have to take place during the byelection include more voting polls, an expanded mail-in ballot system and new protocols for in-person voting.

Council approved the report at a committee of the whole meeting on Thursday, Oct. 1.

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