It's a sign that municipal election time is drawing closer when municipalities begin announcing their senior election official. The RM of Portage la Prairie is preparing with one of its first steps.

For the purpose of conducting an election, councils are required to appoint one person as the Senior Election Official (SEO). Historically, the SEO for the RM of Portage la Prairie has been the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, which is currently Andrea McCabe. She describes the SEO's role.

"They are accountable for the overall election process," says McCabe. "We'll be training election officials and appointing them to run the election and be sure that they're, of course, trained and understand how to carry out their duties, order election supplies, make sure the ballots are ordered, our voters list is up to date, and do orientation for the election officials as well."

She filled the role during the last election in 2018 and for one by-election.

"I've been working on this since February," continues McCabe. "I started working on getting the details together. The biggest part is usually when the campaign period starts, June 30th, when all the councillors can come forward and put their name in. May 1st, 2022, is actually when the candidate registration for reeve begins. And June 30th, 2022, is the councillor positions along with the school board positions."

McCabe explains the reeve campaign begins a month earlier than the councillors'.

As senior election official, McCabe wants to let you know that you need to ensure that you get on the voters list if you want to vote.

"We do have our voters list open to sign-up on our website," adds McCabe. "It's www.rmofportage.ca."

This week's council meeting also decided if they would work with the Portage la Prairie School Division to conduct the election. It was resolved that the Council of the RM of Portage la Prairie authorize conducting the 2022 election jointly with the Portage la Prairie School Division and that all expenses be shared equally.

Rates for election officials to perform the duties required for the 2022 Municipal Councils and Portage la Prairie School Board Elections were set at.

  • Senior Election Official $2,000.00
  • Assistant Election Official $1,000.00
  • Voting Official $240.00 per day plus mileage and meals
  • Assistant Voting Official $200.00 per day plus mileage and meals