1. SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Max Harvey Chief Electoral Officer AYSCBC Conference April 26, 2019

2. AIMS Exchange of Perspectives What I can learn from you Growing edges
What’s on Horizon

3. DEMOCRACY Democracy defined Institutionalization of freedom
System of government - Elements
Political system
Citizen Participation
Protection of Human Rights
Rule of Law equally applied
School elections are part of same mandate

4. ELECTIONS YUKON an independent office of Legislative Assembly
Neutral and non-partisan; deliver, the fair, equal, and impartial administration of elections.
Territorial (1X<5yrs)
School Board (1X3yrs)/School Council (1x2yrs) plus frequent school by-elections
Challenges – recruiting, significant change, capacity

5. THE ELECTORAL CYCLE Public perception
Election delivery is a product of processes to ensure readiness
Process driven
Independent of # electors

6. A PLANNED APPROACH

7. INTEGRITY Public trust
Ballot to qualified elector; a compliant, transparent process, secret, counted as intended, legitimate result
Legislation, processes, accountabilities

8. ACCESS Remove barriers and improve convenience
Barriers: Physical, psychological, awareness, opportunity
Establish the permanent register of electors

9. JOB DESCRIPTION
28,000 electors and 129 positions in 26 school attendance areas
Beyond tasks, councils, as advocates and as a resource, bring important perspective, influence and voice in helping improve our schools
Make a important difference – impact of even small changes can make in lives of us all

10. SCHOOL ELECTION CHALLENGE
2016
May – SC GE – 26 SC – 10/26 filled (2 elections), 13/26 partial, 1 no candidates % filled 100/129 (29 positions left unfilled)
Sep – SC By-election – 2/3 positions filled
Oct – SB GE – 4/5 positions filled
2017
Feb – SB By Election – 1/1 position filled
May - SB By-Election – 1/1 position filled

11. SCHOOL ELECTION ACTIVITY
2018
May – GE – SC GE – 26 SC – 12/26 filled (6 elections), 15/26 partial, 1 no candidates. 66% filled - 85/129 (44 positions left unfilled)
Oct – 5 SC By-Elections – 12/15, 4/5 filled, 1 partially filled (1 of 4 vacancies) 1 poll – 108 votes
Nov – SB By-Election – 1/1 filled
2019/2020
Oct 2019 – School Board General Election
May 2020 – School Council General Election

13. OBSERVATIONS Opportunity Election every 2 years
25,000+ potential electors and candidates
Elections Yukon work to simplify processes and improve training
History and profile of school elections
Awareness
Importance to student outcomes
Not just parents
Understand role and commitment
Greater outreach – web and social media
Strengthened partnerships/collaboration
Council succession planning and outreach
Motivate
Understand role, issues and impacts
Make a difference
Nobody else
Community connection/leadership
Tell the stories; ask
Better candidate support
Engage
Sign Up
Plan for issues and support
Encouragement for commitment
Recognition of contribution – people and progress and outcomes

14. SCHOOL ELECTORAL RADAR
Federal elections in Oct
YFSB election in Oct 2019
SC elections May 2020
Territorial Elections – NLT Nov 2021
Permanent Register – 16/17 year olds
Employment 16+
Project to engage youth and 16+ (Youth at the Booth)

15. CONCLUSION
Elections Yukon role is administration of elections; fully committed to improvement
Elections Yukon role as supporting partner to right to vote and right to be a candidate in school elections
Thank you, all partners, for your service and contribution
Welcome any feedback and guidance

16. info@electionsyukon.ca www.electionsyk.ca (867) 667-8683
THANK YOU
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