Derek Kilbourn
Sounder News
The Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District has amended the policy governing the District’s annual Elections, to remove the restriction prohibiting advance voting.
The prohibition for mail-in ballots remains in place.
Having advance voting put in place was an issue for candidates in the 2025 Trustees Election. Elected were Trustees Oliver Bussler, David Chorneyko and Wayne Mercier, who all campaigned saying they wanted to implement advance voting.
The Trustees approved the amendments at their November 5 meeting. Another consideration for the Board is that the election period will be extended from the typical six weeks to eight weeks.
This will allow for candidates to be nominated, approved, campaign, and for advance voting to take place prior to the general election date.
How long the voting booths will be open on the advance day was not discussed.
Staff said the advance voting will be done as a trial, for two years, to see what the uptake is on advance voting.
Trustee Wayne Mercier asked that the trial period be for three years, as that will allow for a full cycle of all the Trustee terms.
Staff said if someone is running as a candidate, they will need to come in to the office at a set time, and have their witness with them. The nomination will need to be signed in front of the Corporate Officer, with the witness there.
During the question and answer period of the meeting, Nancy Hetherington-Peirce spoke to the decision that the advance voting would be a trial (rather than made permanent), stating that, “I think it’s the right thing to do, to have advance polling for government elections. I want to state my strong disappointment in that decision.”
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