Numerous appeals of Kehewin Cree Nation's chief and council elections have been denied because the allegations would not have affected the election outcome, according to the electoral officer who reviewed the appeals.
Several Kehewin residents formally appealed the two March elections, stating in written appeals irregularities took place because they were not given notice of the nomination meeting or asked for identification when voting.
According to Kehewin's Custom Election Act, notice of the nomination meeting for band council elections must be mailed to each voting member at least 20 days in advance.
“The allegations in an appeal have to warrant enough numbers, enough infractions to affect the outcome, and the outcome of the election was not affected by the allegations,” said Gordon Alger, the electoral officer who oversaw the elections and who reviewed the appeal.
He said there was “inefficient evidence to show the allegations would have affected the outcome.”
Alger said the plurality between the elected councillor with the least amount of votes was eight, and in the election for chief, it was 100.
“If there is an irregularity, but it doesn't affect the outcome, the election stands,” he said.
Alger said he has made his decision and has posted the results at the band office.
When contacted by the Nouvelle, Kehewin Coun. Ernest Gadwa said he hadn't really heard about the appeal results yet and did not receive anything in writing.
Numerous attempts to contact other members of Kehewin band council were unsuccessful.
