Electronic vote counters won’t be used in Sask. provincial election

Despite being used successfully in byelections last year, electronic vote-counting machines won’t be adding up the votes in Saskatchewan’s provincial election.

The machines were used last year in all of the polls for two Regina byelections and in several polls for the Lumsden-Morse byelection.

“The technology we used worked very, very well and was positively received in the three constituencies where it was used,” Michael Boda, Saskatchewan’s chief electoral officer, said in an interview last year.

Results in those byelections came back very quickly, with the two urban ridings called within a half hour of the polls closing.

But despite the quick results, Scott Moe’s government gave a firm ‘no’ when it came to using the vote-counting machines in the 2024 provincial election.

Moe, who leads the Saskatchewan Party, was asked about the decision when he launched his campaign on Monday. He said he stood by the decision.

“A ballot that is cast by hand should be counted by hand. That’s our belief and that’s what will happen this election,” he said.

“Did the process go smooth in Alberta? I think not. We firmly believe that if Saskatchewan citizens are going to cast the ballot by hand, that very same ballot deserves and respects to be counted by hand, and that’s where we are at this point,” Moe added.

In May, the Alberta government decided to ban electronic voting tabulators for future elections, including the next general election.

Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck said the decision to not use electronic voting tabulators isn’t something she’s given much consideration to.

“It’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought to for a long time, but I will say this broadly: People in this province are pretty practical. They’re not afraid of change. That decision has been made in this election, and we’ve got a plan to move ahead,” Beck said.

“It’s not something I’m going to be bringing up in the election, but it was a choice that was made.”

Beck said her party is focused on the future and on the election campaign.

Saskatchewan’s election day is set for October 28.