April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

[kn]

I know the chances of this are slim to none, but legally/constitutionally, who becomes Premier if the WR/PC are tied in number of seats?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by First Lady

No campaign materials allowed in or on polling places.

Other than that there are no restrictions.

Are candidates allowed to place signs outside of polling stations?
I noticed that when I voted on Thursday there was a very large PC sign on a trailer which was parked very close to the polling station.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Are candidates allowed to place signs outside of polling stations?
I noticed that when I voted on Thursday there was a very large PC sign on a trailer which was parked very close to the polling station.

So long as it's not "attached" to the polling station.

Candidates can even greet voters outside of polling stations.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by kn

I know the chances of this are slim to none, but legally/constitutionally, who becomes Premier if the WR/PC are tied in number of seats?

I believe the Lieutenant Governor would allow either of them time to see if they could form a coalition with the other parties.

More likely though, would be some MLA's crossing floor to help the other reach majority.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

I've gotten at least two robocalls from Wildrose; yesterday we got one from the candidate's daughter (Calgary-Acadia) who sounds like she's twelve. I thought that was a bit greasy.

"Vote for my Daddy, he's the best Daddy there is"

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

I've gotten at least two robocalls from Wildrose; yesterday we got one from the candidate's daughter (Calgary-Acadia) who sounds like she's twelve. I thought that was a bit greasy.

I just got a "my dad" call too. I didn't pay attention to what candidate it was for, but it was from the standard 403-768-011X number that all the Wildrose calls have come from.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by kn

I know the chances of this are slim to none, but legally/constitutionally, who becomes Premier if the WR/PC are tied in number of seats?

Assuming no floor crossings, I would expect the Lieutenant Governor would ask Redford if she believes she can continue governing. If she can't, Smith would be given second opportunity. I was noting the potential for a constitutional crisis in the polling thread too.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Are candidates allowed to place signs outside of polling stations?
I noticed that when I voted on Thursday there was a very large PC sign on a trailer which was parked very close to the polling station.

I went to vote in a federal election at a rural location one time, standing in line, minding my own business, when Dr. Grant Hill wandered into the polling station, handing out candies and shaking hands.

"Don't worry folks, its perfectly legal. I looked it up," he said.

One of the two polling workers said, right in front of me, "Doesn't matter, no one here is voting for anyone else."

Sandwiched into this scene, I actually didn't say a word, just turned and stared at him with a clearly aghast/angry expression as he kibitzed and shook hands with the people in line behind me. He caught the drift and immediately retreated out of the polling station with a sheepish grin and a hearty wave.

One of the more appalling things I've ever seen in an election. I went home and tried to look up whether or not it was actually true he could hand out favours inside a polling station on election day but was defeated by my rural dial-up at the time. If its legal, it shouldn't be.

The odd thing was I was probably going to vote for him right up until that second.

And he won in a landslide anyway so I said, frak it and forgot about it.

Cowperson

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

I've gotten at least two robocalls from Wildrose; yesterday we got one from the candidate's daughter (Calgary-Acadia) who sounds like she's twelve. I thought that was a bit greasy.

IIRC she's well into her teens.
There are many high school / college volunteers on all campaigns.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I went to vote in a federal election at a rural location one time, standing in line, minding my own business, when Dr. Grant Hill wandered into the polling station, handing out candies and shaking hands.

"Don't worry folks, its perfectly legal. I looked it up," he said.

One of the two polling workers said, right in front of me, "Doesn't matter, no one here is voting for anyone else."

Sandwiched into this scene, I actually didn't say a word, just turned and stared at him with a clearly aghast/angry expression as he kibitzed and shook hands with the people in line behind me. He caught the drift and immediately retreated out of the polling station with a sheepish grin and a hearty wave.

One of the more appalling things I've ever seen in an election. I went home and tried to look up whether or not it was actually true he could hand out favours inside a polling station on election day but was defeated by my rural dial-up at the time. If its legal, it shouldn't be.

The odd thing was I was probably going to vote for him right up until that second.

And he won in a landslide anyway so I said, frak it and forgot about it.

Cowperson

Federal election law is different. They do have an XXX meters from polling station. I think its 150 M, but don't quote me on that.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I went to vote in a federal election at a rural location one time, standing in line, minding my own business, when Dr. Grant Hill wandered into the polling station, handing out candies and shaking hands.

"Don't worry folks, its perfectly legal. I looked it up," he said.

One of the two polling workers said, right in front of me, "Doesn't matter, no one here is voting for anyone else."

Sandwiched into this scene, I actually didn't say a word, just turned and stared at him with a clearly aghast/angry expression as he kibitzed and shook hands with the people in line behind me. He caught the drift and immediately retreated out of the polling station with a sheepish grin and a hearty wave.

One of the more appalling things I've ever seen in an election. I went home and tried to look up whether or not it was actually true he could hand out favours inside a polling station on election day but was defeated by my rural dial-up at the time. If its legal, it shouldn't be.

The odd thing was I was probably going to vote for him right up until that second.

And he won in a landslide anyway so I said, frak it and forgot about it.

Cowperson

If we have come to the point where people vote based on who last gave them candy, it is time to end our democratic dream and get some strongman dictator running the show.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

If we have come to the point where people vote based on who last gave them candy, it is time to end our democratic dream and get some strongman dictator running the show.

that pretty well sums up the campaigning process - the guy who promises the most candy gets elected..

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

that pretty well sums up the campaigning process - the guy who promises the most candy gets elected..

Since no one promised me, an able body working hard to get ahead, any candies, the one who promises me not to take away the candies I already have gets my vote.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by NuclearPizzaMan

If we have come to the point where people vote based on who last gave them candy, it is time to end our democratic dream and get some strongman dictator running the show.

He appeared to be campaigning inside a polling station.

A candidate or his/her designated representative can be inside a polling station as observors. They cannot have marketing materials inside the polling station.

Does that right to act as an observor include interacting with voters and handing out gifts? He was walking a very thin line.

Imagine if that were common practice. You'd be standing in line, a PC rep on one side of you, a Wildrose rep on the other, both trying to catch your attention to say howdy-do and glad-hand and yourself collecting free chocolate bars and soft drinks by the dozen . . . .

There's a reason you don't see that.

Just an informational article, not specific to Federal elections: http://kempton.wordpress.com/2009/09...ling-stations/

Cowperson

[Resolute 14]

Hopefully First Lady can answer that. I believe she is working as a scrutineer tonight.

[Resolute 14]

This is just such an odd election. I've voted in every provincial and federal election since in the last 15 years, and this is the first time that I really have no clue who will win my riding. Change FTW?

[photon]

Robocalls maybe should be eliminated, make them get a real person to call if they want to spam the phones of millions.

Or barring that, require them to either a) comply with the do-not-call list, that's kind of the point of it or b) have a separate political do not call list, and every call/poll/whatever is required to have an option for the person to put their name on the list and every party/pollster/whatever must comply.

Or c) all home phone #'s of our representatives must be published so we can call them at all hours to tell them about what we want.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Hopefully First Lady can answer that. I believe she is working as a scrutineer tonight.

Yes I am.

Scrutineers cannot wear or carry anything that reveals what party they are with. Each candidate is allowed one scrutineer per polling location.

They will have name tags that say "scrutineer" again, with no party affiliation.

I've heard of scrutineers being turned away because their clothes are too close to party colors.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Yes I am.

Scrutineers cannot wear or carry anything that reveals what party they are with. Each candidate is allowed one scrutineer per polling location.

They will have name tags that say "scrutineer" again, with no party affiliation.

I've heard of scrutineers being turned away because their clothes are too close to party colors.

They probably thought they were being so clever. It would suck though if you were PC scrutineer that just happened to wear red that day and were turned away.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by First Lady

IIRC she's well into her teens.
There are many high school / college volunteers on all campaigns.

How far into her teens, exactly? This is important.

(insert PedoBear/Chris Hansen picture here)