Here's your chance. We often hear or see people post on social media, that if they were on city council then they would do things differently. With a seat vacant on city council, Moose Jaw is now on the path to a by-election set for October 17th.

It's the result of Don Mitchell resigning from city council in June, a decision that he didn't make lightly due to family concerns. He also considered the timing of his announcement and chose the summer to allow the opportunity for a fall, mid-term by-election.

City Clerk Solicitor Myron Gulka-Tiecko also thought a lot about timing in order to maximize exposure.

"Given the pattern of vacations, you'd miss a lot of people so we felt that having that election called a the end of summer and once people are back in their routines, school is back to normal and that would probably be the best time to both engage voters and to have a proper focus on the by-election itself."

Nomination official opens August 27th and papers for candidates must be into City Hall, no later than September 12th however, campaigning can technically start at any time, but the candidate won't be recognized officially until the paperwork is in.

Being a by-election, Gulka-Tiecko isn't expecting a major turn out as they try to plan polling stations and staff but it could still cost upwards of $60,000 to hold the vote.

"The last general election 2016, we had in the neighbourhood of 10,000 people voting but turnout in by-elections is considerably lower," explained Gulka-Tiecko. "The most recent experience we had was in May of 1992 when there was a by-election for an Alderman and a bylaw referendum and at that point, we had roughly 4000 people casting ballots."

A full rundown of rules and what's expected of a candidate is expected to be prepared in the coming weeks with voter information coming out towards the end of summer. Here are the details that have been approved by council in order to get the process started.

RECOMMENDATION
1. THAT City Council declares Wednesday, October 17, 2018, as the date for the 2018 Municipal By-election to fill the vacancy of one seat for Councillor;
2. THAT Ms. Tracy Wittke be appointed as the Returning Officer for the 2018 Municipal By-election.
3. THAT polls shall be open to voters from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the declared By-election Day, Wednesday, October 17, 2018;
4. THAT Polling Areas be established on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, known as By-Election Day, at the following locations:
Poll #1 Kinsmen Sportsplex, Poll #2 Royal Canadian Legion, Poll #3 Town and Country Mall Poll and #4 Church of Our Lady;
5. THAT an Advance Poll #5 be established in the main lobby of City Hall and operated on the dates and times as follows:
Wednesday, October 3, 2018, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 4, 2018, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 11, 2018, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 13, 2018, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 15, 2018, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
6. THAT a Mobile Poll #6 be provided for and scheduled for Saturday, October 13,2018 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.;
7. THAT a Special Poll #7 be established at Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital, 55 Diefenbaker Drive on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 from 12:00 noon to 3:00p.m.;
8. THAT a Special Poll be established on Saturday, October 13, 2018 for a minimum of one hour at the following locations:
Poll #8 Providence Place, Poll #9 Bentley Retirement Community, Poll #10 Pioneer Housing Association, Poll #11 Extendicare, Poll #12 Chez Nous Senior Citizens Home, Poll #13 Capilano Court, Poll #14 Mulberry Estates Retirement Residence, Poll #15 Chateau St. Michael, Poll #16 High Park Towers, Poll #17 Temple Towers, Poll #18 Victoria Towers, Poll #19 Heritage Place, Poll #20 Timothy Eaton’s Centre, Poll #21 Crescent Park Retirement Villa, Poll #22 Brightwater Senior Living, Poll #23 Caleb Village;
9. THAT mail-in ballots be used in the 2018 Municipal By-election in Moose Jaw wherein voters requesting this option be required to register in person pursuant to Bylaw No. 5259, The Election Bylaw, 2012;
10. THAT the remuneration for the following categories of election officials be paid for the 2018 By-Election as follows:
•Poll Supervisors $250.00 per day
•Receiving DROs & Special DROs $235.00 per day
•Deputy Returning Officers (regular) $230.00 per day
An additional $50.00 be established for attendance at a mandatory training session;
11. THAT the practice of registering voters at the polls at Advance Polls or on By-Election Day, rather than by the enumeration of electors names and the preparation of a voters’ list, be continued in respect of the 2018 Municipal By-election in Moose Jaw;
12. THAT the names of candidates in the 2018 Municipal By-election be arranged in alphabetical order on the ballots;
13. THAT the option of requiring candidates to submit a Criminal Record Check with their nomination not be utilized with respect to the 2018 by-election; and
14. THAT the City of Moose Jaw provide free transit service on By-Election Day.