Advance voting begins in Saskatoon Meewasin byelection

Advance voting opened Tuesday in the Saskatoon Meewasin byelection.

The advance polls are to be open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at three locations: The YWCA at 510 25th St. E, the Saskatoon Meewasin returning office at 616 Duchess St., and the Rusty MacDonald Branch Library at 225 Primrose Dr.

Voters must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident of the constituency on Aug. 29, the day the byelection was called. ID is required to get a ballot, Elections Saskatchewan said in a release.

The byelection is set for Monday.

Dr. Michael Boda, Saskatchewan’s chief electoral officer, said advance voting is growing more popular.

“Advance voting continues to be a favoured option for many voters,” Boda said in a statement. “In fact, in Saskatoon Meewasin in the 2020 General Election, 44 per cent of the 7,221 ballots cast were done during the five days of advance voting.

“This option is open to any voter in Saskatoon Meewasin, and our election officials in Saskatoon are certainly ready for this week.”

Some new technology will be on display during the advance voting period, Boda noted.

“For the first time in a provincial electoral event, advance voting workers will use laptops instead of paper materials to do their work,” Boda said.

“This change will result in faster service for voters, a better working experience for election workers, and real-time data for registered political parties and candidates.”

Boda said the new technology is part of Elections Saskatchewan’s modernization program, as it plans for the next general election. That election is scheduled for October of 2024.

Any advance ballots received in the byelection will remain sealed until 8 p.m. on Monday, when they’ll be opened and counted along with all the ballots cast that day.

The byelection was called after the resignation of former Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili, who stepped down as leader and Saskatoon Meewasin MLA following a byelection loss by the party in the northern riding of Athabasca. The constituency had long been an NDP stronghold.

According to Elections Saskatchewan, there are 12,292 registered voters in the riding, and 270 mail-in ballots have been requested.

Five candidates are now officially on the ballot:

• Jacklin Andrews, Saskatchewan Green Party
• Mark Friesen, Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan
• Kim Groff,  Saskatchewan Party
• Nathaniel Teed, NDP
• Jeff Walters, Saskatchewan Liberal Party

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of this story, correcting the location for advance voting.