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Saskatchewan goes to the polls today in the province's 30th general election.
Three candidates are vying for the job as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cypress Hills.
They include incumbent Saskatchewan Party MLA Doug Steele, Clare McNab from the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and Buffalo Party candidate Doug Wilson.
"It's been pretty amazing," Steele said. "The welcoming communities in the constituency have been exceptional. I like to see things get done and I'm going to work hard on their behalf to make sure the communities in the Cypress Hills constituency aren't forgotten... just try to grow our communities and make a strong business environment."
Wilson made the opposite point, saying he feels the region is being forgotten.
"Our infrastructure is failing," Wilson said. "Our hospitals are closed at times. There are concerns that I don't feel are getting addressed. We just need a stronger voice to come from the area. To be very persistent in drawing attention to the concerns that are coming from the area."
The riding has elected a Saskatchewan Party MLA for seven consecutive elections since 1999. McNab knows the NDP has to put in some work to make breakthroughs in rural Saskatchewan.
"I've been out knocking on doors and personally talking to people," McNab said. "I've been asking people what their specific issues are. I'm collecting a list that I can send to the party and maybe we can try and address some of the more specific rural issues that are out there."
Now that it is election day, McNab is pushing for a higher voter turnout in the large riding. It stretches northwest and southwest from Swift Current. Voters in Shaunavon, Gull Lake, Maple Creek, Kyle and other small municipalities will elect one of the three candidates today.
"It's important to vote," McNab noted. "In our constituency it was less than 60% of people that voted. I'm encouraging everyone to get out and vote regardless of who you vote for, but look at the messages people are sending. The party that has been in power for the last 17 years what have they offered to people over that time? We're proposing to make some changes to that to lower some taxes and to work on education and healthcare."
Wilson sees potential for a third party like the Buffalo Party to make some waves in what could be a close election.
"I think if there is a unique result and we end up with a minority government," Wilson said. "If a few Buffalo Party candidates get in that could affect the balance of power. We come from a conservative background here. (The Buffalo Party) were another voice that spoke to keeping it in a conservative mindset. There's basically been two legitimate parties which is the NDP and the Sask Party. if you don't agree with the NDP's platform and you're kind of frustrated with what the Sask Party has been doing, at one point your options were pretty limited."
Voting goes from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and you can click here to find your voting location. In the large riding of Cypress Hills there are a number of polling stations.
They include the Eatonia Community Hall, Wheatland Plus 50 Senior Citizens Club in Eston, Lacadena Community Centre, Kyle Community and Elks Hall, Christ the Redeemer Parish in Swift Current, Succes Community Hall, Cabri Community Hall, Abbey Community Hall, Sceptre Recreation Hall, Little Flower Catholic Church Hall in Leader, Burstall and District Community Centre, Richmound Community Centre, Fox Vally Community Hall, Hazlet Community Hall, Gull Lake Recreation Complex, Tompkins Community Hall, Piapot Legion Hall, Golden Prairie Community Hall, Maple Creek Legion Hall, Maple Creek Senior Citizens Centre, Nekaneet Band Office, Consul Community Hall, Claydon Community Hall, Eastend Memorial Hall, Chris the King Church in Shaunavon and Shaunavon Legion Hall.
"It's important to vote for whoever you think just for your voice is heard," Steel said. "I'm a strong believer that for our communities to grow we've got to make our voices heard. That's why voting in an election is very important."
Stay with Swift Current Online and our four Southwest Saskatchewan radio station for updates throughout the day and election results tonight.