A few pieces of information and reminders before the weekend. Please see below for details on Voter Information Cards hitting the mail stream, and reminders on how homebound voting works as well as two upcoming deadlines.
VICs in Mail
Later today, Voter Information Cards (VICs) will begin hitting the mail stream on their way to voters in the three constituencies holding by-elections. The VIC is probably the best tool Elections Saskatchewan has to facilitate the act of voting for residents of this province – our stakeholder survey after the April 2016 general election found that more than 83 percent of voters reported that the VIC was a key source of information on voting in the provincial election.
Clarification on Homebound Voting – Reminder
Before the Saskatoon Meewasin by-election last March, my office clarified a number of processes around how the homebound voting process should work.
Homebound voting is only available to an individual who is unable to attend a regular or advance poll due to a disability (or a person offering care to that individual). Our Homebound application form has been amended to highlight this requirement.
In addition, all homebound applications need to be submitted to Elections Saskatchewan directly by the voter or a family member/caregiver. The process cannot be facilitated or managed by a registered political party or candidate. If you or your representatives make contact with individuals who wish to use homebound voting, I would ask that you direct them to our website or provide them with our telephone number so that we can serve them directly.
Nomination Deadline Reminder
Please accept this as one last reminder that the deadline for nominations is 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13. As always, I’d ask that you encourage your candidates to contact their returning officer and make an appointment to review the nomination package to ensure it is all in order. The time by which nomination papers must be filed is one area of the Act that the Chief Electoral Officer is specifically not allowed to extend (see Section 7(1)(a)(i) for the specific reference).
Section 226 Reminder
Finally, one last reminder that Monday, February 12 is the deadline for registered political parties to update or confirm the information found in the register of political parties. If you have questions about this, please contact Jennifer Colin at Jennifer.Colin@elections.sk.ca or 306.787.4061.
I want to wish you the best as you proceed with your campaigns during these by-elections. Thank you, also, for your attention to these important matters.
Dr. Michael Boda
Chief Electoral Officer
Province of Saskatchewan