The School Board Trustee Elections are set for Monday, May 30 with the polling stations open from 12 noon until 8 p.m. The list of nominated candidates for the 29 school trustee positions throughout the Eastern School District, Western School Board and the French Language School Board will be printed in the Island newspapers.
As a result of the close of nominations at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 13, the following zones will be holding elections: Zones 1, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 within the Eastern School District; Zones 6, 7 and 9 within the Western School Board; and Zone 4 within the French Language School Board. All remaining zones do not require elections as the candidates were elected by acclamation.
“A poplar misconception is that you have to be a parent of school age children in order to be a qualified elector in the school board trustee elections,” said Acting Chief Electoral Officer Lowell Croken. Mr. Croken added, “This is not the case as section 32(1) and (2) of the School Act states: ‘Subject to subsection (2) Canadian citizens who are at least eighteen years of age on the date of the election (May 30) and have been resident in the unit for at least six months are eligible to vote in school board trustee elections for that unit.’
Please note that, in addition to section 32 (1) as noted above, electors within zone 4 of the French Language School Board must meet one of the following additional qualifications: (a) be a parent of a student who is receiving French first language instruction in the province; (b) must be eligible to have a child receive French first language instruction; or (c) be eligible to have a child receive French first language instruction if the elector had a child.”
As an elector you must vote in the zone that you live in. Should your zone be holding an election, you may acquire further voting information by visiting our website at www.electionspei.ca and clicking onto the heading “School Trustee.” By keying in your civic address number and street name, the following information will be displayed: School district, school zone, zone description, zone map, zone returning officer contact information, candidate(s) name and address, as well as the location and address of your school polling station. This information is listed for both the English and French school district and boards. If additional information is required please contact Elections P.E.I. at 1-888-234-VOTE (8683).
Once again, Election Day is Monday, May 30, and the polls are open from 12:00 (noon) until 8 p.m. Following the close of polls, Elections P.E.I. will be listing the election results as they are reported onto the Elections P.E.I. website.