Fort Assiniboine residents faced voting barriers

Woodlands County council is seeking a meeting with newly-elected Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken to resolve voting issues in the Fort Assiniboine area, where residents were reportedly directed to vote at Tiger Lily despite the hamlet hosting its own polling station.

The problem was raised by Coun. Dale Kluin during the April 16 meeting in Fort Assiniboine, which Kluin represents.

Upon receiving an election registration notification, Kluin said he was directed to vote at the Tiger Lily Hall, which is about a 20-minute drive away from the hamlet.

Although he lives just outside the hamlet, Kluin said others who live in the community were also sent to Tiger Lily despite the fact there was a polling station set up at the Fort Assiniboine Royal Canadian Legion, which Kluin is the president of.

“Consider me being the President of the Royal Canadian Legion of Fort Assiniboine, and I can’t even go vote there,” he said.

Kluin also heard of residents directed to other far-off polling stations. One lady who has lived in Fort Assiniboine for 20 to 30 years was directed to Onoway, where she didn’t know of any candidates.

Another who has lived in the area all his life was directed to Slave Lake. Rather than make that long drive, he cast his ballot via the advance vote in Barrhead.

Kluin indicated a number of residents also did not receive any kind of advance notification. They ended up going down to the Legion polling station and voting there.

Meanwhile, Kluin is aware that people in Timeu, Topland and Goose Lake were directed to the polling station in Fort Assiniboine.

“We have 180 residents or thereabouts in the hamlet that had to get in a vehicle and drive somewhere when they could have walked (across the street) to vote,” he said, adding that the whole thing comes off as “a totally disorganized process.”

Kluin noted this is not the first time this has occurred: about 10 to 12 years ago, Fort Assiniboine residents were also directed to vote at Tiger Lily.

“We fixed it; now they’re back doing the same stupid thing. It’s frustrating,” he said.

That’s why Kluin suggested a meeting with the newly-elected MLA: to fix the problem before it becomes an issue again in four years.

His fellow councillors agreed with the suggestion.  “It certainly was not well thought-out on Election Alberta’s account,” said Woodlands County mayor Ron Govenlock.

Ultimately, council opted to invite van Dijken to the next council meeting in Fort Assiniboine. According to their meeting schedule for 2019, that will take place on Tuesday, June 4.

Govenlock said they hope to make the MLA understand the need for rural people to be given the same voting opportunities as residents of larger communities.

“The opportunity for rural residents to cast a ballot is not equitable with what is available in larger centres, whether that be Whitecourt or Edmonton,” he added.

Elections Alberta was contacted for a comment on this story, but did not respond prior to publication deadlines.