Last day to vote in three provincial by-elections

March 1, 2018 – Election workers opened the doors at 9 a.m. today at all 135 regular polls for provincial by-elections in Kindersley, Melfort and Swift Current. These polls will remain open until 8 p.m. tonight, after which ballot counting begins.

“With the continued popularity of advance voting, by-election day is now just the last day to vote, and the day we count all the ballots, including ones cast during the five days of advance voting,” says Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer of Saskatchewan. “More than 600 election workers, who reside in communities across these three constituencies, have stepped up over this past month to serve voters, and to them I am truly grateful and appreciative. All the planning, training, and hard work comes together today.”

The results will be posted after 8 p.m. at results.elections.sk.ca.

Today is the preliminary ballot counting for all three by-elections. The final results will be announced as part of the Final Count on March 13.

The number of ballot boxes that will be reported tonight are comprised of the following:

Kindersley:

• A total of 55 ballot boxes, comprised of:
  • 44 for regular polls (20 different locations);
  • 7 for advance polls that were open February 23-27;
  • 4 for mobile polls (personal care homes in the constituency).
• No homebound voting applications were received, therefore there is no homebound poll.
• Two additional polls (1 for absentee votes, and 1 for hospital/remand votes) will be added to the Final Count on March 13, for a total of 57 ballot boxes.

Melfort:

• A total of 58 ballot boxes, comprised of:
  • 48 for regular polls (22 different locations);
  • 4 for advance polls that were open February 23-27;
  • 5 for mobile polls (personal care homes in the constituency);
  • 1 for a homebound poll.
• Two additional polls (1 for absentee votes, and 1 for hospital/remand votes) will be added to the Final Count on March 13, for a total of 60 ballot boxes.

Swift Current:

• A total of 52 ballot boxes, comprised of:
  • 43 for regular polls (9 different locations);
  • 3 for advance polls that were open February 23-27;
  • 5 for mobile polls (personal care homes in the constituency);
  • 1 for a homebound poll.
• Two additional polls (1 for absentee votes, and 1 for hospital/remand votes) will be added to the Final Count on March 13, for a total of 54 ballot boxes.

Absentee ballots, also known as voting by mail, must be received at Elections Saskatchewan no later than March 12, and must be postmarked no later than March 1.

There are 10 candidates in total (three in Kindersley, three in Melfort and four in Swift Current).

The number of eligible voters who registered to vote by the February 21 deadline are:

• Kindersley 11,690
• Melfort 12,181
• Swift Current 12,218

Any eligible voter who missed the February 21 registration deadline can still cast a ballot today, by registering in-person when they go to vote.

Registered voters should have received a Voter Information Card (VIC) in the mail earlier this month. It details when and where to vote today, and lists the ID options to show before receiving a ballot. Anyone not receiving a VIC, or are not sure where to vote, can look up their polling place online at pollfinder.elections.sk.ca or call 1-877-958-8683.

Elections Saskatchewan is the province’s independent, impartial, professional election management body. Given a mandate from the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, it organizes, manages and oversees provincial electoral events. Find information for voters, workers, media, candidates and parties at www.elections.sk.ca.

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For more information contact:

Tim Kydd
Senior Director, Outreach & Communications
Elections Saskatchewan
306.537.9211
Tim.kydd@elections.sk.ca