Advance Voting Details and Instructions for Candidate Reps
Advance Voting Begins Thursday, September 6
Advance voting begins Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. in two locations for the Regina Northeast by-election. These locations are:
As per legislation, homebound voting will also take place during the advance voting period.
Voters List Update Available on Wednesday, September 5
The voters list that will be used in the election will be available for download on Wednesday, September 5 by 5 p.m. The process for receiving this list remains the same as the preliminary list – you can use our FTP site to download the file in PDF or CSV format.
Advance Polls and By-Election Day – Role of Candidate Representatives
Last week, I provided you with some documents related to the rights and responsibilities of candidate representatives. I’d like to take this opportunity to, once again, offer some clarity with respect to the role of candidate’s representatives at the polls before voting begins. I provide this information to you in advance of every electoral event in the hope that you provide it to your candidates and their teams – who may not have seen it during past events.
Candidates and their representatives are important stakeholders throughout the electoral process. In this light, I have every expectation that they will treat election officials and voters with the same respect that they deserve. Election official training has emphasized the need for respect—respect for the rules in place and respect for voters and candidates’ representatives—within each polling place. I hope that you will encourage similar parameters among your teams.
Candidate representatives may be situated to the side of the poll officials’ table (away from the voting screen). The actual seating arrangements will depend on the size and configuration of the polling location. Candidate representatives do not need to be situated close to the registration desk because the completed registration accompanies the voter.
Advance Voting – Information Accessible to Candidates’ Reps
I appreciate that your candidates want “real time” information on those who have voted at advance polls.
It is not possible for us to provide copies of an “E-333, Statement of Voters who Voted on Polling Day” (also known as a “bingo sheet”) at advance polls. Your candidate representatives are allowed, however, to ask the DRO to view the poll book. Be aware that timing of access will remain at the discretion of the DRO and that serving the needs of voters will always come first. Cameras (including cell phone cameras) cannot be used to capture this information.
If your candidate representatives feel that they are not being permitted suitable access to the poll book, please have them contact the returning officer. As always, you are welcome to contact our office if you feel the process is still not being followed and I will investigate further.
When all five days of advance poll voting are complete, our returning officer will compile the “E-317 – Poll Book for Voters who Voted at Advance” from every advance poll in the constituency and supply a copy to each candidate. Given that advance polls are open until 10 p.m. on Monday, September 10, these copies will not be available for candidates until after 1 p.m. the next day.
By-Election Day – Information Accessible to Candidates’ Reps
Although it is not in legislation, DROs have been instructed to provide your candidate representatives with a copy of the “E-333, Statement of Voters Who Voted on Polling Day” (aka the “bingo sheet”) at certain times on by-election day. The E-333 will be distributed every two hours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
As during advance polls, your candidate representatives can ask the DRO to view the poll book when voters are not being served. This remains at the discretion of the DRO and again, serving the needs of voters will take priority. They can also obtain a copy of Form E-316 “Statement by Deputy Returning Officer Respecting Voters Who Made the Declaration on Election Day.”
Thank you for your attention to these important items and for sharing them with your teams.
Dr. Michael Boda
Chief Electoral Officer
Province of Saskatchewan