Voting stations are now open for the provincial byelection in the riding of Lethbridge-West. Votes can be cast between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. at assigned polling stations.The UCP’s John Middleton-Hope — a Lethbridge city councillor, the Alberta NDP’s Rob Miyashiro — executive director of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, and the Alberta Party’s Layton Veverka — a power engineer, are seeking office.The seat was left vacant after NDP MLA Shannon Phillips resigned in July — complaining of the toxic culture in politics.“The coarsening of political discourse in public life is very problematic,” she said in July.The byelection will be a test of NDP leader Naheed Nenshi’s ability to connect outside of Calgary and Edmonton, said Lori Williams of Mount Royal University in a City News report.“If he’s not able to pick up this seat, it presents challenges to this great hope that he represented for an alternative to the UCP, a government in waiting, a leader with momentum. All of that will be called into question.”Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years of age or older on election day are eligible to vote if they are a resident of Lethbridge-West.If voters are uncertain if they reside in Lethbridge-West, check “Where Do I Vote” on the Elections Alberta website to determine electoral division. Additional voting information is available at www.elections.ab.ca or contact 1-877-422-8683.
