Lumsden-Morse, Regina Coronation Park & Regina Walsh Acres By-Election Communique for Chief Official Agents, Issue Eleven

Preliminary Results

Preliminary Results

Voting has concluded in all election contests, and we have compiled results for the three constituencies:

Lumsden Morse:

Regina Coronation Park:

Regina Walsh Acres:

These are only the preliminary results. We will be holding a Second Preliminary Count of Vote by Mail ballots received by August 8 on Saturday, August 12 (more information below). On Tuesday, August 22 the Final Count will take place, both at the three returning offices and at our head office in Regina (where we will complete the count of Vote by Mail ballots). More information on the Final Count will come next week.

The attached infographic provides an overview of the three-step process (Preliminary, Second Preliminary and Final) and explains which will be counted at each.  

I do want to draw your attention to the pace at which results came in. All locations, from all three constituencies, featuring vote counting technology had reported in before 8:30 p.m. The manual voting locations from Lumsden-Morse did not finish reporting in until after 10 p.m. This shows one of the significant benefits of vote counting equipment – results that came in far quicker while maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the process.

Second Preliminary Count

As noted in an earlier communique, we will once again be holding a Second Preliminary Count of Vote by Mail (VBM) ballots on Saturday, August 12.

We will be counting 276 Vote by Mail ballots – 129 from Regina Walsh Acres, 111 from Regina Coronation Park and 36 from Lumsden-Morse. The count will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday at our head office in Regina (#301 – 3303 Hillsdale Street). An E-417C appointment form is attached and all candidate representatives will need to have a completed form to observe the counting of votes.

If you are interested in observing this count, please confirm your attendance by emailing oceo.admin@elections.sk.ca before 3 p.m. today. If you have questions, please reach out to Jennifer Colin at 306.520.4705 or jennifer.colin@elections.sk.ca. You can also use this number on Saturday afternoon to access our offices as they automatically lock over the weekend.

Ballot Confirmation Count

On August 2, I provided you with some information on the Ballot Confirmation Count that will take place on Monday, August 14. This confirmation will see ballots that were counted by vote counting equipment inspected by hand to confirm the results provided by the equipment. For these three by-elections, we will inspect all ballots counted by equipment for the constituency of Regina Walsh Acres. Regina Walsh Acres has the smallest margin between the first and second place candidates, which is why all equipment-counted ballots from that constituency will be confirmed. For the other two constituencies, we will randomly select one ballot box and confirm the results of that box, as is consistent with electoral best practice in Canada.

Chief official agents, candidates, and candidate representatives are welcome to observe the ballot count confirmation. The confirmation process will begin at 10 a.m. at the Regina Walsh Acres returning office located at 145 Dorothy Street, Regina. You do not need to register in advance, but the confirmation process will begin at 10 (worker training will take place in advance) and proceed until completion. You are welcome to attend all or a portion of this event.

Strike Off Information

Right now, workers in the Lumsden-Morse returning office are completing the final consolidation of strike-off records from the manual polls held yesterday. A cumulative extract of all voters will be uploaded to your Filezilla SFTP site at midnight tonight.

Also, with the conclusion of the Second Preliminary Count tomorrow afternoon, we will begin adjudicating Vote by Mail ballot packages again on Monday, August 14 in the lead up to the Final Count. This information will be made available once per day and will also be cumulative.

Vote Counting Equipment – Logic and Accuracy Testing

Before voting started, on August 1, we completed a pre-logic and accuracy testing process. Candidates and party representatives were invited to attend this in both Swift Current and Regina. On Wednesday, August 16, we will complete a post logic and accuracy testing process in both Moose Jaw and Regina. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jennifer Colin and she will confirm times in both locations to facilitate your attendance.

Upcoming Key Dates

Just a few key dates to add to your calendar:

• Saturday, August 12 – Second Preliminary Count of Vote by Mail ballots at Elections Saskatchewan head office
• Monday, August 14 – Ballot Confirmation Count at Regina Walsh Acres returning office (145 Dorothy Street, Regina)
• Wednesday, August 16 – Post Logic and Accuracy testing in Moose Jaw and Regina.
• Tuesday, August 22 – Final Count to be held in the returning offices and at Elections Saskatchewan head office
• Saturday, September 2 – Return to the Writ for the Lumsden-Morse, Regina Coronation Park, and Regina Walsh Acres by-elections
• Friday, November 10 – Deadline for candidates to file their by-election expense returns
• Monday, February 12 – Deadline for registered political parties to file their election expense return for the by-elections

While voting has come to a close during these by-elections, I want you to know that our team at Elections Saskatchewan genuinely appreciates your continued cooperation as we seek to bring these events to a close in the weeks ahead. No matter how your candidate placed in this race, I want to thank you for your work and contribution to the conduct of democratic elections in our province.

Dr. Michael Boda
Chief Electoral Officer
Province of Saskatchewan