April 3, 2018 – Saskatchewan’s Chief Electoral Officer has released Volume IV in A Report on the Twenty-Eighth General Election. This fourth, and final volume in the series, offers recommendations on how legislation can facilitate a modernization of Saskatchewan’s electoral processes in order to more effectively serve voters, registered political parties, and other key stakeholders throughout the province.
“Changes suggested for Phase One of modernization are consistent with modernization efforts being pursued in other jurisdictions across the country,” says Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer. “Here in Saskatchewan, we have chosen to encourage modernization in phases that would unfold over three electoral cycles, aligning with the 29th (2020), 30th (2024) and 31st (2028) provincial general elections.”
“While some jurisdictions, such as Ontario, have chosen to pursue wholesale reform within a single electoral cycle, our recommendations focus initially on modernization within a first electoral cycle that will address a current challenge in Saskatchewan—lineups at advance polling locations. Such change is urgently required to provide administrative mechanisms that address the increasing popularity and growth of advance voting in the province.”
“The full modernization process would unfold over three electoral cycles. Each of the next two four-year cycles between general elections will require further legislative amendments to be identified and implemented in a successive modernization phase.”
The report can be found here under the heading General Election Reports: https://www.elections.sk.ca/resource-centre/reports-publications/ in both large and smaller file versions.
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. Information for voters, workers, media, candidates and parties at www.elections.sk.ca.
For more information contact:
Tim Kydd
Senior Director, Outreach & Communications
Elections Saskatchewan
tim.kydd@elections.sk.ca
(306) 787-7355