After an election, we normally breathe a sigh of relief that it’s over. Folks in the Alberni Valley, though, are not getting much of a break.
On election night, Mike Sparrow was named winner of Electoral Area ‘F’ (Cherry Creek) for the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District.
Now, however, he might not get the seat after all.
While smaller electoral areas rarely need a recount, Sparrow only won by four votes. This, coupled with some voter registration forms being filled incorrectly, has pushed the ACRD to call for another vote.
Wendy Thomson is the chief electoral officer for the ACRD. After consulting with legal counsel, she has gone ahead and filed to have the Cherry Creek election declared invalid.
“The ACRD will always protect the integrity of its elections,” Thomson explained.
“With results this close, where just four votes could change the outcome, it is vital that all voter registration forms are filled out completely. We acknowledge the impacts this may have, but our legal obligations are clear; therefore, we have requested a new election for the office of Director in Electoral Area ‘F’.”
It’s pretty standard to call for a recount with the vote is close. But calling for a new election seems to be getting more common in the district.
It’s the second time in two elections that the ACRD has petitioned the Supreme Court of BC for a second election.
Back in 2018, it was because 13 voters had cast their ballots in the wrong Area. The resulting by-election was a real example of just how much every vote matters.
The case will be presented in full by legal counsel in Nanaimo next week.
If the court declares the election invalid, then it’ll be time to take another look at your candidates.
Hopefully, in this case, the second time’s a charm.
