Less than 100 days until Election 2025

It may be the middle of summer, but preparations for this fall’s Municipal and Schools elections are gearing up. 

The 2025 Election will be held to determine the following contests for a four-year term (October 2025-October 2029):  

• The City of Lethbridge’s Mayor and eight Councillors 
• Seven Trustees for the Lethbridge School Division 
• Five Trustees for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division 

The candidate Nomination Period will close at noon on September 22. Voting will start on October 8 and conclude when polls close on Monday, October 20.

The current Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday, meanwhile, received for information a Municipal Election Processes Audit Report – a comprehensive review of its proposed 2025 municipal election processes to assess alignment with the recently amended Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) and Election Bylaw 6473.

Bonnie Hilford, City Clerk and Returning Officer, contracted PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The full 47-page report highlights a series of recommendations and key challenges and helps identify any gaps, potential risks, vulnerabilities or inefficiencies in the processes. 

“With such significant changes imposed by the Province, the objective of the audit is to ensure the integrity, transparency, efficiency, impartiality and completeness of the proposed processes,” says Hilford. “This will also help with awareness for Council, the public and candidates, while strengthening trust and transparency in the new processes.”

Key areas of assessment included ballot handling, ballot box operations and counting procedures. The review also evaluated the City’s proposed use of the City Hall as the central Counting Centre and the feasibility of completing the count within legislated timelines.

Any additional costs arising from recommendations in the Audit Report are expected to be within the approved Election Budget.

Here is what else you need to know about Election 2025:

Website

• The City’s election website, lethbridge.ca/election, will be updated regularly as the Nomination Period progresses
• The website includes Nomination Papers, local and provincial legislative information and background to support those interested in running for public office

Voter Registry

• To vote in the 2025 Election October 8-20, all voters must be on the permanent Electors Registry – which is new this election
• There is a single voters list for Provincial and Municipal Elections. To register, or check to make sure you are registered, visit www.voterlink.ab.ca
• The final date to update your information and to register is August 15. That gives Elections Alberta a chance to update their information before they send it to us to use for the election

Voting Stations

• To avoid long line ups on the last few days, we encourage people to vote early during the Election Period, which runs from October 8-20
• There will be two voting stations for the start of the Election Period: one at the Lethbridge and District Exhibition Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre and one at the Cor Van Raay YMCA at the Cavendish Farms Centre
• On the final day of the Election Period – October 20 – those two stations will be open, as well as a third site at the Trinity Reformed Church (1100 40 Avenue North)

Promotional video

• Today, we are launching a fun and educational video to promote Election 2025 in Lethbridge

Colouring sheet contest

• Today, we are launching a colouring sheet contest
• Enter to win a family swim pass to any City-owned swimming pool
• Email a photo your completed colouring sheet to contest@lethbridge.ca before the last day of the month (contest runs from July to September) or drop it off at City Hall
• Include the artist’s name, age and a contact phone number or email address
• Winners will be contacted in the first week of the following month to arrange their prize

Sticker contest

• Before the end of the school year, we partnered with the local school divisions to create an ‘I voted’ sticker contest
• Our Election team has reviewed more than 100 submissions received and winners will be announced in September
• The top 10 winning entries will be printed on stickers and available to those who voted
• The winning entry will also receive a school class pizza party lunch

Election 101 Our Stories series

• Our City Clerks team is working with the Communications and Engagement team to plan a series of informative articles in the lead-up to October to help prepare our residents/voters
• We are also striving to provide important and relevant information for prospective candidates, so they are fully aware of what the roles involve
• Catch up and follow along here

Ballot Bites social media series

• Interested in bite-sized material about the coming Election? 
• Follow the City’s social media pages for small but relevant information posted each week until the end of the Election Period

New Council Orientation 90-day plan

• As approved by Council in today’s Consent Agenda, the next City Council will undergo a 90-day orientation period
• As per the Municipal Government Act: “a municipality must offer, and each Councillor must attend, orientation training to be held prior to or on the same day as the first organizational meeting or the first regularly scheduled council meeting”
• The orientation will provide Council with timely and relevant information and tools they require to understand municipal government, the organization and their role responsibilities, as well as duties as Elected Officials to assist with making informed decisions and engaging with and representing their constituents

Voter guide brochure and candidate videos

• Stay tuned closer to the Election Period for an informative brochure, as well as videos showcasing each candidate

For Public Inquiries: 
Call or chat with 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.