Introduction.... A vacancy was created in the Electoral Division of Wainwright by the resignation of Robert (Butch) Fischer on December 31, 2001.

The resulting by-election was held pursuant to the provisions of the Election Act, Chapter E-1 of the Revised Statutes of Alberta, 2000, including amendments. The electoral division boundaries described in the Electoral Divisions Act, proclaimed in force February 11, 1997, were used at the by-election.

List of Electors.... The List of Electors was compiled from information contained in the Alberta Register of Electors. The Register had been updated during the 2000 Provincial General Confirmation, and in conjunction with the 2001 Provincial General Election. Vital Statistics data was used to remove deceased electors from the Register and increase the overall accuracy of the List of Electors.

Wainwright By-election.... By order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, a Writ of Election, dated March 11, 2002, was issued by the Chief Electoral Officer to the Returning Officer, Suzanne Frissell, pursuant to Sections 39 and 40 of the Election Act.

Nomination Day was March 25, 2002, and Polling Day was April 8, 2002. Six candidates, each registered under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, were nominated. Advance Polls were held on April 4, 5 and 6, 2002.

The Returning Officer announced the Official Results on April 18, 2002. Doug Griffiths, representing the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, was declared duly elected. The Writ of Election and the Returning Officer's Certificate and Return, certifying Mr. Griffiths' election, were returned to the Chief Electoral Officer on April 18, 2002. No appeal for a judicial recount, or from any decision of the Returning Officer concerning any of the ballots, was applied for pursuant to Section 144 of the Election Act.

The Chief Electoral Officer arranged for the publication of the by-election return in the May 15, 2002 issue of the Alberta Gazette.

Nomination deposits were forfeited by four of the six candidates. The forfeited deposits, totalling $800, were paid through the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer to the Provincial Treasurer for deposit to the General Revenue Fund.

An overview of results indicating the total votes obtained by each candidate and a statement of results by poll. Maps of the electoral division of Wainwright are available by clicking here.

The total cost of the By-election was $57,709. Click here to view the summary.

Registered candidates are required to file By-election Campaign Period Financial Statements with the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, by August 8, 2002. These financial statements will list contributions, income from other sources, transfers of funds/materials and expenditures concerning the campaigns. The information, which pertains to candidates' election expenses, will be published in local newspapers in accordance with Section 4(1)(d) of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act.

Registered political parties which participated must file audited financial statements by October 8, 2002. These financial statements will list contributions, income from other sources, transfers of funds/materials and expenditures concerning the campaigns. In accordance with Section 11 of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, all financial statements will be available for inspection in the public files maintained by the Chief Electoral Officer and pertinent data will be published in the Twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Chief Electoral Officer for the 2002 calendar year.

Elector Feedback.... A client satisfaction survey was completed at two polling places containing multiple polling stations. Electors were chosen at random and asked to comment on various aspects of the election experience.

The results of the small test group were favourable in all respects. Survey results revealed:

• election officers were regarded as being both courteous and knowledgeable;
• a significant majority of electors determined where to vote by the advertisements placed in local newspapers;
• polling place locations and hours of operation were convenient to the majority of electors; and
• the majority of electors on the List of Electors waited less than one minute to receive a ballot.

Valid Ballots
Received

Percentage of
Valid Ballots

1,695

25.9

73

1.1

2,924

44.6

227

3.5

1,114

17.0

519

7.9

6,552