Skip to content

PRRD challenges validity of election results

New Area C ballot results released Tuesday: Suzanne Haab 234, Brad Sperling 231
Election
The Peace River Regional District has announced that the results of voting in Area C is being reviewed.

The Peace River Regional District has announced it’s looking into the results of the recent municipal election in Area C.

In a statement released late Tuesday afternoon, it said:

“After careful review of election records, the Chief Elections Officer has determined that it is necessary to submit an application to challenge the validity of the election due to evidence of persons voting when not entitled to vote in Electoral Area C.”

The statement continued:

“Elections documentation indicates that a small number of electors from outside of Area C voted in the election by mistake. There is no evidence to indicate this was done purposefully to undermine the validity of the election. However, due to the closeness of the election results, the small number of ineligible ballots may have determined the overall election result and the validity of the election must be challenged.”

Electoral Area C election results following a re-count of the preliminary election results declared on October 15, 2022 show a new election result for Electoral Area C. 

Suzanne Haab: 234; Brad Sperling: 231

Just what the new result means was also clarified in the the formal statement by the PRRD:

“Upon review of this application, the Supreme Court will decide whether a new election must be held in Area C only. This application will not challenge the validity of the election in Area B or any of the five assent votes. Suzanne Haab will take office as Electoral Area Director for Area C until such time as the Supreme Court issues a decision.”

Shortly afterwards, the regional district released the numbers of a second count of Area B.

Jordan Kealy has been confirmed as the winner.

Kealy earned 243 votes to Jeff Kitt's 156, a very slight change in the numbers from the weekend.