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1. How often are municipal elections?

Municipal elections are held every four years in Alberta.

2. Who makes the election rules?

Municipal elections in Alberta are regulated by the Local Authorities Election Act, which is provincial legislation. Each municipality also has a Municipal Election Bylaw to regulate any additional details specific to their municipality.

3. Do I need to be a Canadian citizen to vote in a municipal election?

Yes, you must be a Canadian citizen to vote. You also have to be a resident of Alberta for at least six months leading up to the election, and you must live in the municipality you want to vote in.

4. Do I need to show voter identification to vote?

Yes, you need to show ID to vote. Check the voter ID section for accepted forms of ID (there are lots).

5. How many people can I vote for?

Cochrane Town Council has six Councillors and one Mayor. You can vote for one candidate for Mayor and up to six candidates for Council (fewer than six is ok too).

6. Where do I vote?

You polling station depends on where you live in Cochrane. Check for your polling station.

7. What if I won’t be in Cochrane on election day?

The Town of Cochrane provides a variety of alternatives for voting.

Advance polls

There are four opportunities to vote in advance of election day:

Saturday October 7, 2017, 10am-5pm
Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, 800 Griffin Road East

Wednesday October 11, 2017, 4-8pm
Cochrane RancheHouse, Council Chambers, 101 RancheHouse Road

Thursday October 12, 2017, 4-8pm
Cochrane RancheHouse, Council Chambers – 101 RancheHouse Road

Saturday October 14, 2017, 10am-5pm
Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, 800 Griffin Road East

Special ballots

You can request a ballot by mail (which you return by mail) if you won’t be in town on election or any advance poll days. Request a special ballot here.

Returning officers go in person to the Bethany Care Centre and Big Hill Lodge on election day so residents in those facilities can vote.

8. When are election results announced?

The Town of Cochrane returning officer announces unofficial election results as soon as all the votes are counted on election day (usually within a couple of hours after the polls close at 8pm). The results become official at noon on the fourth day after the election.

9. How can I find out more about the candidates?

We have links to contact information for all candidates. You can also read the local newspaper and online news sources for articles and interviews with the candidates, or look for opportunities to meet with them in person and ask about their platforms and priorities.

10. How can I find out more about elections in Alberta?

There's more information on Alberta Municipal Affairs website.