Russell Council voted during their last Special Council meeting to use the same supplier for an Internet and Telephone Voting System for the 2024 by-election required to fill the vacant councillor seat, despite expressing a need to change suppliers after the 2022 elections.
Although Council wanted to change to a different supplier for the voting system, the request for proposals process would have been “impossible” due to the short timeline to conduct the by-election resulting in the municipality staying with their current supplier, Intelivote Systems Inc.
The Internet and Telephone Voting System is estimated to cost $44,776.80 plus taxes at $2.70 per elector ($1.25 e-vote service, plus $1.45 per voter instruction letter production and postage). The calculation is based on the registered 16,584 eligible electors in the Elections Ontario Portal. This fee includes two rate increases from Canada Post this year for postage. Part of the expense will be covered from the election reserve.
The cost for the voter list management services for the by-election is $5,500, bringing the total anticipated 2024 municipal by-election budget to $50,300. Additional election costs such as staff time, advertising and incidentals have not been added to the anticipated amount.
With the unexpected resignation of Pierre Leroux and as Mayor of Russell after taking the Chief Administrative Officer job at neighbouring municipality The Nation, there is no money budgeted for a by-election in 2024. However, the election reserve balance as of the end of 2023 is $16,306.56, an accumulation earmarked for the 2026 elections.
As part of the 2024 budget, Council planned to add $15,750 to the election reserve for a total of $32,056.56. There has not yet been discussion from where the municipality expects to come up with the remaining $20,000.
Residents of the Township of Russell have until Friday, August 16, by 2:00 p.m. to register as a candidate. To submit a name as a candidate, resident must file a Nomination Form (Form 1), the nomination fee, and an Endorsement of Nomination Form (Form 2) to the Municipal Clerk. For more information, visit the Township of Russell website under Candidate Information.
The last day of August will be the first day candidates will be able to post election campaign signs. Election Day is September 30. The new Councillor will commence their new term on October 15, until November 14, 2026.
