BARRHEAD – Pembina Hills School Division will be keeping the same ward configurations for the upcoming 2025 election.
At the Dec. 18 Pembina Hills School Division board meeting, preparation for the 2025 school board elections was discussed.
“There was a sizeable update to the Elections Act this fall,” said Heather Nanninga, secretary treasurer of the Pembina Hills School Division.
Not all the information details have been received but some decisions needed to be made before Dec. 31 and motions that can help work to start now for the election.
Nanninga explained that the Pembina Hills School Division has the option to change the ward configurations, and it was decided to keep the current ward boundaries.
This year nomination forms would only be accepted at the school board office with no second location approved for accepting forms.
A first reading was carried out at the Nov. 27 Pembina Hills School Division meeting that trustee nominees would be required to complete a criminal record check as part of their submission forms.
Pembina Hills will request municipalities within the school division to conduct the 2025 general election as municipalities can choose to offer residents locations to vote for school trustees within their communities and count the votes.
Nanninga stated that her objective was to get started on signing new agreements with municipalities and confirming Returning Officers who will be responsible for meeting all of the legislative commitments.
An advanced ballot will be available to electors and there will be two deputy returning officers will be available to attend the voters residence if they have a physical disability and are unable to vote in person.
A person with disabilities can request to vote from home, subject to the availability of this provision in the municipality that conducts the election on behalf of the board.
Voting will also take place at institutions like a senior’s lodge, subject to the availability of this provision in the municipality that conducts the election on behalf of the board.
