SURREY-ITES just can’t understand how the City’s Chief Election Officer could issue a press statement on Monday evening stating that the ballot cast prior to the temporary 55-minute suspension of voting on Saturday (November 1) will be counted on November 15 after the polls close at 8 p.m. – EVEN THOUGH the ballot papers did not mention the party of two Council candidates – MAZ ARTANG and MICHAEL BOSE, both of whom are members of mayoral candidate Barinder Rasode’s One Surrey party.

This has PERVERTED the whole election process – no wonder there are all those jokes calling Surrey – SORRY!

This sorry state of affairs under Surrey First has disgraced B.C.’s second largest city.

The Surrey CEO issued the following press statement:

“Further to the media release issued Saturday, November 1, 2014, Independent legal counsel has confirmed that Surrey Election Officials took appropriate steps to ensure the integrity of the voting process.  The Chief Election Officer also confirms that all the ballot boxes containing all ballots cast prior to the temporary 55 minute suspension of voting on November 1, 2014 were segregated and secured.

“All ballots, including those cast prior to the temporary 55 minute suspension of voting on November 1, 2014 will be counted on November 15, 2014 after the polls close at 8:00 p.m.  The segregated ballots, along with all the other ballots, will be counted and reported on a poll by poll basis as normal practice.

“The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, the Ministry responsible for local elections, is pleased that Surrey’s Chief EO has taken the steps to ensure the integrity of voting process.

“Surrey voters may continue to cast their ballots before general election day on the remaining four advance voting days: November 4, 5, 6, & 8. A map and list of polling stations across Surrey, including voting wait times, are available on www.surrey.ca/elections.”