CARROT RIVER — Following the letter of the law, Carrot River has rescheduled its mayoral byelection for Friday, May 8.
The Local Government Election Act requires a vacancy to be filled by a byelection within six months, unless it happened within an election year. In this case, the deadline is May 14, as former mayor Bob Gagné resigned Nov. 14. As well, the town is required to announce a new date within 14 days of the postponed byelection, which was planned for March 21.
A release from the town said there no way to know at this time whether the new date selected will be a date where voters will be able to cast their ballot without risk of transfer of the COVID-19 virus.
“The returning officer is forced to prepare to hold a poll on May 8 unless prevented by rules set out by the Chief Public Health Office,” the release said.
The act says if the town neglects or refuses to hold a byelection, the province can choose to step in, appoint a person to organize the byelection and set a date.
On the ballot are Ila Boehm and Brock lrvine. The advance poll was held on March 13, with 33 votes cast. Those ballots will be secured until the votes are counted after a rescheduled byelection.
The next general civic election is on Monday, Nov. 9.
