The Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Saskatchewan says with more than 880 locations across 61 ridings and polls open today through Saturday and then again on Monday, there are plenty of opportunities to vote. The deadline for applying to vote by mail has come and gone, but Dr. Michael Boda says more than 32,000 voters have applied, which is less than in the 2020 election during the pandemic.
Prior to the 2020 election, vote by mail was known as an absentee ballot, which was seldom used, but Elections Saskatchewan has been working to make voting more accessible. In 2016, about one per cent of votes were cast through absentee or special voting procedures. Four years ago, about 12 per cent voted by mail and under one per cent by special ballot.
Dr. Boda says they have been gradually working towards more accessible voting over the last three provincial elections, including the election next Monday. For those that are in care homes, Boda explains that by legislation, polls are provided in 369 licensed nursing homes, to make it easier for residents to cast their votes. However, that leaves about 450 other facilities and seniors apartments where the average is is 65 and over. They are not part of the Elections Saskatchewan mandate, so earlier this year, Boda says they reached out to these homes through their administrators, “so we have been working over the course of the year with 250 facilities across the province to ensure they were aware that vote by mail would be available to them, and they have picked up on that significantly.”
When it comes to those who are homeless, Dr. Boda says even without an address, there is an opportunity to vote if they work through a shelter. Elections Saskatchewan has connected with facilities across the province, so the unhoused can get identification through these shelters.
Finding people to work the election can be a challenge, according to Boda. He says, “That has been a trend for some time, but in this case in 2024, we have been working over the course of the cycle to build a community of people who are interested in working on elections and we have what’s called ‘the take part list’ on which there are over 10,000 people that we connect with on an ongoing basis.” Dr. Boda says they have been able to get enough workers, but there are always challenges at the last second. He points out they are paid, but it’s more about giving back to the community. Dr. Boda couldn’t estimate when a final result would be available next Monday night, saying it could be after midnight because they count votes by hand. The polls are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm and then on Monday the 28th from 9am to 8pm.
Saskatchewan’s first election was December 13th of 1905, with the Liberal Party winning 16 seats and the Provincial Rights Party, which would later become the Conservative Party, winning 9 seats. Water Scott became the first Premier of the province.